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Published Oct 1, 2022 01:00 pm

Let the great deals, discounts, and irresistible packages on offer at the Philippine Travel Mart reignite your wanderlust

GRAND OPENING Representatives from major sponsors participated in the ribbon cutting (from left) Ehran Balaban of Turkish Airlines, Arlene Tena of Cebu Pacific Air, Stephanie Faye Celorico of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, Bobby Horrigan of Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Stanley Lo of Dusit Thani Manila, Christoph Kuch of Dusit D2 Davao led by (bottom image) incoming Tourism Promotions Board COO Marga M. Nograles, DoT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, and PHILTOA president Fe Abling-Yu

The Philippines’ rich natural beauty, sunny warm weather, and complex, unique culture attract travelers everywhere, both local and international. A key contributor to the country’s overall economic resilience before and during the pandemic is the tourism sector.

In the study “The Philippine Tourism Sector Amid the Pandemic: Developments and Prospects,” researchers Caynila, Luna, and Milla explain that the increasing demand for tourism and travel-related services in the country in recent years is partly because of the rapid growth of the hotel and resort industry. The Philippines is also tagged as a top Asian destination for cruise ships and ranked eighth among the top medical tourism destinations globally.

The best travel deals await at the mega sale, Philippine Travel Mart (PTM), featuring some of the biggest tourism and hospitality brands at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

7,641 ISLANDS UNDER ONE ROOF Different regions showcase their distinct cultures and attractions at the curtain-raising ceremony of the 2022 Philippine Travel Mart (Ali Vicoy)

One of the country’s longest-running travel exhibitions, PTM officially kicked off its 33rd edition on Sept. 30. It is organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). The expo’s theme this year is “Safe Travels.”

Occupying the four large halls of the convention center are 300 exhibitors and the tourism arms of the 12 regions of the Philippines. On offer are tourism products, including sun and beach, marine sports, cruise, health, wellness, culinary, cultural, and farm tourism, as well as entertainment and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE).

“If you put our country side by side with our main competitors in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, our offerings are almost the same if not better. We have beaches, natural resources, beautiful people, beautiful products, and various destinations,” says Tourism chief Christina Frasco on the sidelines of the PTM launch.

The DOT secretary also introduced programs to improve the overall tourist experience in the country, furthering the position of the Philippines as a top tourist destination.

‘If you put our country side by side with our main competitors in the ASEAN region, our offerings are almost the same if not better. We have beaches, natural resources, beautiful people, beautiful products, and various destinations.’

“We will also provide a convenient and better tourism experience for both foreign and domestic travelers through standardized travel protocols,” says Frasco, assuring travelers that she had instructed concerned offices to guarantee that tourist sites in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are safe and well-equipped to receive guests. “We have reached out to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Bureau of Immigration, and the Bureau of Quarantine to ensure that our entry protocols are reasonable, are consistent throughout the country, and will encourage, not dissuade, tourists from coming to the Philippines and going from place to place across our country.”

THE AUTONOMOUR REGION REPRESENTED Bangsamoro booth, from the regional exhibitors in the fair (Ali Vicoy)

PHILTOA president Fe Abling-Yu is just as excited. “We’ve been waiting for a long time and now is the perfect time to travel again, support local businesses, and explore the Philippines and beyond,” she says.

Apart from local tourism, also available in this year’s PTM are tour packages in Bali, Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine Air Asia, Turkish Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and the Philippine Airlines, are major sponsors. The Manila Bulletin is among its media partners.

The fair opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m.

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