Thursday, August 21, 2008 Tourism and Travel Expo '08 launched
THE four regions of the North Philippines are set to launch the 3rd North Philippines Tourism and Travel Expo '08 on November 14-16 this year at SM City Clark in Pampanga.
The event will feature the Cordilleras, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon as a wholesome one-destination-one product package.
The North Philippines tourism corridor is headed by the following regional directors, namely: Purificacion Molintas for the Cordilleras, Martin Valera for Ilocos, Blessida Diwas for Cagayan Valley, and Ronaldo Tiotuico for Central Luzon.
This was the announcement made by host Tourism Regional Director for Central Luzon Ronaldo Tiotuico in a press statement.
Tiotuico said the biggest marketing event of the year happens at a time when Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is readily open to the traveling public from Manila which is the biggest source market for the four regions.
The travel mart is expected to draw thousands of potential buyers, stakeholders and major players from both the domestic and international travel industry like big-ticket tour operators and travel wholesalers from around the country to do business calls on their travel-related counterparts in the north. Millions of pesos worth of tour packages is expected to change hands during the three-day event.
This year's event is organized by the Central Luzon Tourism Council, Inc. led by Lydia Co and the Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. (Petco) led by Edith Collado.
Twenty provinces and major cities in the north are expected to showcase their tourism packages, destinations, and attractions during the event with an even equal number featuring their cultural and indigenous lifestyles and heritage.
About 100 exhibit booths and pavilions will be occupied by both the private and government institutions to highlight their own unique tourism products.
Also to be invited to the event are the regional destinations of the Visayas and Mindanao whose role in positioning the country as one country, one destination is quite crucial to the overall marketing effort of the tourism department.
Expected to attend the all-important event are Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, all the governors and local chief executives from the north, travel wholesalers and tour operators, including special-interest players like adventure travel specialists and health and wellness executives.
This year's theme is "Go North! A Wellspring of Diversity" speaks well of the north's image as a diverse destination yet creating a unique blend of the new and the traditional, from a serene and soft environment to a rugged yet exotic places to go to.
