Friday, July 25, 2008 PAL, travel agencies to join tourism expo
PHILIPPINE Airlines, the country's flag carrier, is the first travel entity to confirm participation in the upcoming 3rd Mindanao Travel & Tour Expo 2008 set on August 8-10 at the Event Centre of SM City Mall.
Provincial Government participants that also signed up earlier for the three-day tourism and travel fair are Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Sarangani.
More regional destinations are expected to join the biggest gathering of tourism players in Mindanao.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano will grace the opening rites in the afternoon of August 8 with cultural presentations and a fashion show highlighting Mindanao-inspired collections.
The Consulate General's office in Davao City is also participating in its capacity as partner in the BIMP-Eaga (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asian Growth Area) cooperation. It will have a booth promoting the destination areas around Indonesia, including a showcase of Indonesian traditional dances.
The MTTE 2008 also sees the gathering of tourism schools around Mindanao, with the Mindanao Technical Vocational Education and Training Association (MinTVET), including the Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation, Inc.
Regional offices of the Department of Tourism in Mindanao are also participating as they take the lead in promoting the different tourist destinations in their respected areas.
Anchored on the theme "Barkadahan sa Octo-Break," the three-day tourism expo aims to expose students and other young people to affordable packages as they embark on tours during the semestral break, according to DOT regional director Sonia Garcia whose office is a chief MTTE cooperator.
Joji Ilagan-Bian, chairperson of the Mindanao TVET, which is the chief organizer of the event, said the coming tourism fair offers the best opportunity particularly to tourism schools offering Hospitality course and Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM).
The major components of Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo 2008 are the following:
* Daily destination showing and destination booth exhibit of the various tourist destinations in the Mindanao Region.
* Learning Tracks Sessions offered free to interested participants on significant topics like: Tour Guiding, Marketing & Promotion of Hotels and Resorts, International Hospitality, Opportunities in Wellness Tourism and Tourism Schools Standards.
* Jobs Fair targeting students and schools offering Tourism and Hospitality courses, labor leaders and the business community.
