THE Pampanga Provincial Government will again host this year's North Philippines Tourism and Travel Expo from November 13 to 15.

The event will e held at the Event Centre of SM City Clark at the Clark Freeport Zone.

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Arwin Paul Lingat, officer-in-charge of the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office of Pampanga (Actop), said the three-day annual event will showcase the best of Philippines and Asia-Pacific tourism destinations, products and services.

Considered as the premier event in North Philippines for the tourism and travel industry, the expo combines trade and consumers and brings people together to promote inbound, outbound and domestic tourism.

Lingat said the event offers unlimited opportunities for all concerned sectors to explore, market and promote their destination, products and services at one place.

This year's theme "Go North, A Wellspring of Diversity" aims to feature not only the significant dimensions of the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region but the entire Philippines and its neighboring countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

More so, the event also aims to provide education, entertainment and business opportunities and at the same time enhance the promotion and preservation of the country's cultural heritage.

Among the activities lined-up for the event are the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) Band exhibition, PUP Banda Kawayan and Blue Island Band performances, North Philippines Festivals parades featuring Halamang Dilaw of Marilao, Bulacan; Ylang-ylang of Anao, Tarlac; Malatarlak of Tarlac City; Sibuyasan of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija; Caragan of Mabalacat, Pampanga and Ibon-Ebun of Candaba, Pampanga.

Other featured events are the longganisa showdown dubbed "Taste, Buy and Eat," Sabutan fashion showdown by Aurora province, and North Philippines fashion show.

Audio-visual presentations from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other groups are also lined-up, including raffle draws from exhibitors and a "buyers meet sellers portion."

Lingat said some local group artists have been invited to render rondalla and chorale performances on November 14, the second day of the expo, during which the province of Pampanga and other provinces in the region are especially featured.

The Pampanga Agents and Travel Society (Pats), Clark Freeport, provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Subic Bay will have their designated hours.

The event will be joined by exhibitors concerned with agri-tourism and leisure properties, airlines and air alliances, cruise lines, global distribution systems, golf course, hotels and resorts, medical tourism hospitals and clinics, national and local government agencies, retirement villages, spa resorts and destinations, theme parks and amusement centers, time share properties, tour operators and travel agencies, tourism boards, tourist transport operators, travel associations, books and publications and insurance.

Meanwhile, the organizers have invited various business and trade organizations, conference and convention organizers, foreign and local buyers, educational institutions, international and domestic travelers, travel agents and tour operators, tour organizers and planners, tourism associations and offices and the general public to visit and participate in the forthcoming annual event. (Erlinda T. Yutuc/PIO/With Ian Ocampo Flora)