Melo Villareal
The Philippines is On Sale!
Staying true to the PHILTOA’s main thrust of promoting domestic tourism, the 1st Philippine Tourism Week includes the 24th Philippine Travel Mart — the largest and longest-running local travel trade show.
Philippine Airlines Booth
Starting today till September 8, 2013, the expo will feature over 350 local exhibitors showcasing destination and tour products from all over the country.
The event will also see the unveiling of exciting new destinations for travelers of all types. Up for grabs in the annual Sale ng Bayan are the Island Getaways—joint group tours that cover destinations across various parts of the Philippines, sold at discounts of up to 70%.
Allah Valley Booth
The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), in partnership with the Philippine Department of Tourism, is set to mount festivities for the first-ever Philippine Tourism week, which is scheduled on September 1-8 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Melo Villareal with Assist DOT Region 3 Director Leona Nepomuceno
Boarding for ASEAN Integration 2015
Among the highlights of the week-long celebration is the 1st Philippine Tourism Forum, which will bring together major tourism industry players—both local and regional—to discuss the issues and implications of the impending ASEAN tourism integration.
Melo Villareal with Susan Calo Medina
Done in partnership with prestigious business and tourism organizations such as the Management Association of the Philippines and the ASEAN Board Advisory Council of the Philippines, the 1st Philippine Tourism Forum will also feature the industry’s first-ever Tourism Town Hall meeting. The event will set the private sector’s general direction for 2015, laying the groundwork for the industry’s compliance to regional standards.
Tinalak Weaving at South Cotabato Booth
Aside from the business forum, PHILTOA will also organize the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX)—a travel trade initiative to promote inbound tourism to over 90 international buyers originating from Europe, U.S.A. and Asia. This is part of the promotional efforts to support the Department of Tourism in meeting its target of 10M inbound tourists by 2016.
Tourism Creates Jobs
In line with honing the industry to regional standards, the event will also include Trabaho sa Turismo, a job fair for those interested in exploring job opportunities and career growth in the tourism industry.
Zamboanga Booth at the Philippine Travel Mart 2013
“Some of the biggest challenges faced by the tourism sector lie in finding talent and developing a competent workforce,” says Cesar Cruz, PHILTOA President. With their youth-specific training effort, PHILTOA seeks to secure the industry’s future manpower supply.
The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Inc. is a non-stock and non-profit organization of tour operators and allied members actively involved in the advocacy of responsible tourism. The membership includes travel agencies, hotel, resorts, transportation companies, handicraft stores, and other tourism-oriented establishments and association. For more information on the 24rd Philippine Travel Mart, please visit www.philtoa.org.
