(DOT Eastern Visayas)
TACLOBAN CITY – Tour and travel operators from Eastern Visayas joined a three-day travel expo held at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
The travel fair, which ended on Sunday (Frb.4) was sponsored by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTTAA) Tour Expo in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The PTAA Travel Tour Expo, now on its 31st year, is a cornerstone event for the travel industry offering unparalleled opportunity for adventurers and holidaymakers to discover a plethora of travel packages, exclusive deals, and promotional offers from a wide array of airlines, hotels, resorts, and tour operators.
Joining DOT-8 at the SMX Convention Center, in Pasay City were Budgetmate Travel and Tours, IM Travel Corporation, Lorriane Travel and Tours, SMR Travel and Tours, and Viaje Holidays Travel Services which showcased what Eastern Visayas can offer to the tourists.
The tour and travel operators joined over 200 exhibitors from all over the country with 702 booths that generated at least 100,000 visitors on its three-day event.
The travel expo was attended by DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, DOT Central Office officials, DOT regional office directors, foreign dignitaries, local government unit officials, and tourism stakeholders.
“I am very happy to be here to extend my congratulations and my heartfelt greetings to the PTAA for having mounted this travel expo for the last three decades and for your invaluable contribution to the growth of the Philippine Tourism industry in its 44 years of existence,” Sec. Frasco said in her message.
Also during the event, the tourism department launched the Philippine Tourism Awards which aims to encourage healthy competition and promote industry excellence.
This recognition is also envisioned to become the highest and most prestigious citation in the country’s tourism industry.
The award also aims to strengthen the partnership of the DOT with its stakeholders from the private sector, local government units, and media, recognizing their consistent support to the tourism industry.
The Philippine Tourism Award will have two major categories; the Philippine Tourism Pillar Awards which seeks to honor the industry pioneers and institutions to show appreciation to individuals, enterprises, destinations, and organizations who started it all for the Philippine tourism, and the Philippine Tourism Industry Awards were awardees must embody the true Filipino hospitality and contribute to the socio-economic growth and environmental protection.
Under the Philippine Tourism Industry Awards are five categories, namely, institutional, individuals, tourism product, media, and special awards.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
