TPB to host the county’s biggest travel trade event

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is set to host the country’s biggest and most significant travel trade event – the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX), on September 4-6, 2016 at the Marriot Grand Ballroom. In line with the Visit the Philippines Again 2016 (VPA) campaign, this year’s PHITEX is set to once again promote the country as the premier tourist destination among some of the world’s biggest travel and tour buyers.

With this year’s theme “#PHITEX2016: Bigger Business”, TPB is bringing a larger and improved PHITEX with more sessions allocated for business-to-business interactions and better designed pre-tours and post-tours.

Kicking off this week-long event is the 27^th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) on September 2-3 at SMX Convention Center. Organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), PTM is considered to be one of the major travel trade exhibitions in the promotion of domestic and inbound tourism. The event attracts buyers from all over the world as it presents the best and most affordable tour packages in the country.

Highlighting the event is the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), which includes exclusive business-to-business appointment meetings between Philippine sellers and foreign buyers. By giving them the chance to personally meet the local sellers, buyers are introduced to the Philippines’ marketing trends and practices. In exchange, sellers are given an edge to offer globally competitive tour packages to the international market. These sessions will also provide foreign buyers the opportunity to experience the fun and exciting post tours to main Philippine attractions and destinations.

“PHITEX has been instrumental in strengthening the brand image of the Philippines,” shares TPB Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III. “By introducing the best tourism products and services to the international market and bringing together the different stakeholders in the tourism industry, the country has become an important destination, not only for various international and high-level business and economic meetings but also for travel and trade. In fact, the country has welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors from January to May 2016. This is 13.02% higher than the accumulated arrivals in January to May 2015.”

Now on its 15^th year, PHITEX has been continuously sustaining the growth that the Philippines has gained in the global tourism market.

TPB receives award from Merrell

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) was recognized by Merrell, the high-performance footwear brand, for their unrelenting support not just to Merrell’s “Getaway To Adventure” campaign but also in the promotion of fun, safe and memorable adventures in the country. TPB was also acknowledged for its efforts to promote the Philippines as Asia Pacific’s adventure capital, showcasing the country as a world-class destination. The Philippines has indeed many well-known and developing destinations for outdoor travel and with the support of the government and the private sector, the country will continue to increase the number of both local and international travellers. In photo are: Merrell Senior Concessionaire Charisse Aquino, Merrell President Charles Yu and TPB’s Officer-in-Charge for Media Relations and Communications Arnold Gonzales.