Biggest VisMin Travel Expo opens at SM City Trade Hall

Although still on its fourth year, the International Visayas-Mindanao, Travel, Tours, Leisure and Lifestyle Expo is envisioned to become one of the largest travel expositions in the Philippines in the next year or two.

The exposition, which opened yesterday at SM Cebu City Trade Hall and will run until February 19 (Sunday) is the biggest fair in four years, said Department of Tourism (DOT-7) regional director Patria Aurora Roa.

"We started from a very small Visayas Travel Fair four years ago. There were only handful participants joined the show then. But now, it gained attention not only from the tourism players from all over the Philippines, but also from other countries," Roa said.

In the next few years, when we have a bigger facility to accommodate more exhibitors we can be one of the biggest, (if not the biggest) travel and tourism expositions in the Philippines, Roa said.

Organized by Cebu Association of Tour Operators (CATO) and Cebu Travel and Tours Association (CTTA), with the help of event organizer Global Link Business Communications Philippines, Inc. the exposition attracted over 100 exhibitors including international participants from Guam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, among others.

This is the second year that the exposition shifted from just merely a Visayas travel fair, to include Mindanao, and international players to gather in a one-stop-shop offering travel, lifestyle and leisure packages to the market.

"Cebu is the perfect place for this kind of events because it's the hub for both domestic and international tourists," Roa said.

The event chairperson and CTTA vice president Marget Villarica said 80 percent of this year's exhibitors are non-members which proved that the show has truly established a "reputation for success."

"Visitors to the show this year will be in for a big surprise. There will be plenty of entertainment, concerts, special promotions, discounts, freebees, activities, presentations and packages that visitors and buyers can avail of exclusively during the three-day affair. On top of that, entrance to the show is free," Villarica said.

The show showcases a varied mix of travel and recreational destinations. Among the exhibitors in the three-day tourism trade event are various trade offices and organizations including the regions of Caraga and Bicol, lands of pilgrimage, festivals and eco-tours; the region of Ilocos and Pangasinan, replete with Spanish-heritage architecture and beautiful beaches; raw and untamed Palawan and Agusan del Norte; the sugar and gold province of Negros Occidental; and Oriental Negros with the coral gardens and marine life.

Last year, the trade event generated on-site sales of P16.4 million. This year, organizers are expecting to exceed the figure considering that the exhibitors' turn out was good. The traffic volume in the first day has improved compared to last year.

In her speech during the formal opening yesterday, Cebu Provincial governor Gwen Garcia said the success of the event for years now has helped strengthen Cebu's position as the center for tourism in the Philippines.

"We [Cebu] are the center at which different cultures meet," the lady governor said.