Attending a travel fair

As I was in Manila midweek last week until Saturday, I managed to attend PTAA’s Travel Fair in SMX, Mall of Asia Complex. It opened on Friday until Sunday. I managed to convince my good friend Ditos Atayde-Alcain, gen. manager-owner of Interlink Travel Corporation (Tropicana Apt. Hotel, 1630 L.M.Guerrero St., Malate) to accompany me to the fair’s opening on Friday 10am. It was our first time to attend such an event, as Ditos tends not to involve her travel agency in such activities.

The low, low fares offered on a book-&-buy basis can boggle the mind of the peripatetic dreamers among us. Air fares for as low as 70% off regular price, in the Philippine Airlines booth, attracted the longest lines. Of course, time and patience are required to get the best offers. Travel trade stalwarts decorated their booths to entice the multitudes who trooped in that first morning. Some even had live performers – like Hawaiian Air with their imported beachcombers dishing out sensuous island ditties, accompanying themselves on ukuleles and Hawaiian guitar; or the equally sensuous belly dancer in the India booth, announcing the direct-India flights of PAL.

Dave de Jesus of the Tourism of Thailand Office in the Philippines was very busy tending to TAT’s centrally-located and spacious booth, with TAT Director for Singapore & Philippines Porntip Makornpan (who I just renewed acquaintances in Cebu during the TAT dinner in Radisson Blu Hotel) greeting visitors and facilitating the Thailand promo deals through the accredited travel agencies. They have the most captivating offer – buy your ticket until February 28 – for the travel period of February until August 31 from only US$99.00/person on twin sharing basis (hotel accommodation). Package cost excludes travel taxes and surcharges. Cebu travel agents: Destination Specialists and Grand Holidays. Hurry if you want to go to Thailand this year…this is the best offer I have come across in a long time.

Due to its leisurely ambiance, cruises are becoming popular among local travelers. The Royal Caribbean booth was crowded when we tried to snatch the handouts from over the heads or under the arms of the crowd. Am interested in the Legend of the of the Seas’ Pearl of the Orient Cruise sailing on June 25, 2011. It is a 7-day cruise from Shanghai (China), Osaka (Japan), Fukuoka (Japan), Busan (South Korea), then back to Shanghai. Other sailing dates: July 2 & 9; October 1. I am looking at October as it will be autumn weather in all these places, but am not too sure of the sea conditions at that time.

Another route that caught my eye is the 9-Night Russia & Hokkaido Cruise sailing on May 24. The Legend will depart from Tokyo (Yokohama, Japan), Aomori (Japan), Otaru (Japan), Vladivostok (Russia), Busan (South Korea), Jeju Island (South Korea), then end in Shanghai (China). Interesting places here are Yokohama, the biggest port of Japan – just 30 mins. train ride from Tokyo, where the Silk Center and the Doll Museum are located. Another one is Jeju Island in South Korea – the year-round honeymooners’ haven and skiers’ fave spot in winter. Of course, Shanghai for end-of-cruise shopping! For cruise inquiries: asiacruises@ arpanir.com.ph Or contact your favorite cruise specialist in Cebu. For the Japan lovers, address inquiries to: [email protected] For an alternative choice: Star Cruises usually starts in Hong Kong and they have similar ports of call.

For European tours and guided holidays, Trafalgar Tours was very visible that morning. Another popular tour operator in Europe – which we got in 1999 when my family when on a month-long European sojourne – is Insight Tours. Destination Specialist is one of the local travel agencies selling both brands.

An instant reunion took place when we went to the Kenya Airways booth – one of the most beautifully done booths in the trade fair! We were able to meet up w/Charles Arbas, the Kenya Air Sales manager who was with us in Kenya, and Mamerth Banatin of Adam’s Express Travel, another Kenya travel companion whose booth was last year’s PTTA Travel Fair top earner! Congratulations!

Our safari experiences came back to vivid memory when we saw the fabulous packages they are offering: Explorer Safari to Kenya-Tanzania for 12 days, all-inclusive meals with two nights in Hong Kong (departures: April 17 & May 17), and 8-Day Kenya Safari, meals all-inclusive (March – May). For more inquiries, contact the Kenya Airways GSA Pan Euro International: paneuromkt@skydsl. com.ph Or your friendly travel agent. An accredited travel agency is Interlink Travel Corporation of Ditos: ditsalcain @yahoo.com or Aida Uy’s Fortune Travel here in Cebu.

Although we did not line up for any ticket purchase, it was past 12 noon when we got out of SMX and still we were unable to check out some booths.  However, Ditos and I were so glad we were able to meet friends in the industry – Rosary Ysmael-Palanca of YMV & Associates who handled the pr of the affair, my good friend Ajish Morris of Silkair Cebu who was at the SIA booth with GM Budiman and Rita Dy, and Roberto Hukom – Country Manager Phils. of Ethihad Airways (national carrier of United Arab Emirates) who I met after so many years.

Congratulations, PTAA, for a successful travel fair again this year. Hope Mamerth won the coveted prize again.