Friday, November 24, 2006 Biggest tourism event in 2006 begins
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- SM City Clark will host starting Friday until Sunday the biggest tourism event of the year --- the first ever North Philippines International Tourism Fair.
Led by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the event would showcase the wide array of attractive destinations and tourism services of the four regions in the northern part of the country, namely, Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.
DOT Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico said the department has forged an agreement with the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies Phils., Inc. (Naitas) led by its president Angel Bognot for them to handle the preparations and management of the three-day event.
The same organization is fully supported by tourism department, the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), the Provincial Government of Pampanga, the City Government of Angeles, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
The North Philippines ITF is a new marketing strategy in tourism and travel that combines the strengths and potentials of contiguous regions of Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon for the purpose of setting the pace of the north's tourism development.
It is meant to showcase in one single activity all that each of these regions have to offer while at the same time providing an opportunity for a business exchange meeting between destination buyers and sellers. The same event gives visitors a chance to discover the four regions through eye-catching visual aids, colorful cultural events and interactive exhibitions.
The event consists of a travel mart where all four regions exhibit their favorite destinations in vivid multimedia platforms, a travel market exchange or Tramex where actual buying and selling of tour packages will take place, a regional trade fair where local products that are indigenous to the provinces are made available, street dancing performances from selected provinces on a daily basis, interactive marketing using state-of-the art technology, workshops and lecture on best tourism practices, sale of tour packages, fashion and entertainment and many more. The colorful presentations are expected to attract more than 150,000 visitors.
The travel fair is open to major players and stakeholders in the travel industry including travel agencies, tour operators, hotels and resorts, airlines, tourist transport operators, national and local governments, spa and wellness centers, retirement villages, time-share properties, travel guides and magazines.
The event is held in cooperation with the Philippine Travel Mart Foundation; Central Luzon Tourism Council, Inc.; Provincial Governments of Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Aurora; Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC); Greater Clark Visitors Bureau (GCVB); Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Pampanga (Harp); Association of Travel Agencies of Pampanga (Atap); Manila Japan Travel Agents & Hoteliers Association (Mjtaha); Skal International Makati; Spa Association of the Philippines (SAP); and Rotary Club of Manila.
For further details, please contact the Naitas at tel. nos. (632) 524-4768 / 253-8375 email: naitas@skyinet.net Website: www.naitas.org.ph or visit the DOT regional office 3, Paskuhan Village, City of San Fernando, Pampanga at tel. nos. (6345) 961-2665 / 2612 or email: dot3@wowluzoncentral.com Website: www.visitmyphilippines.com. (ABL)
