Cebu hosts first Visayas travel fair

To boost the tourism industry in Cebu and its neighboring islands, Cebuanos played host to the first Visayas Travel and Tour Fair (VTTF) 2002 at the Trade Hall of SM City-Cebu.

The Cebu Travel and Tours Association (CTTA), with its president Marilou Ordoñez of Delmar Travel, spearheaded the event in response to the global slowdown in the travel and tourism industry.

The organizers believed that the choice of Cebu as the venue was ideal and fitting for the island undoubtedly the gateway by both air and sea to other island wonders within the Visayas, Mindanao and even as far as some areas of Luzon, as well.

With the theme "Tourism, the Bridge to a Brighter Future," the three-day exhibition presented the different fascinating destinations within the Philippines and around the world.

Guest of Honor, Tourism Attaché Edu Jarque, in his keynote speech, encouraged the various partners in travel to promote their respective islands and "proudly show the best of whatever they possess."

"Cebu certainly does not have the monopoly of ‘They’ve got it all.’ We are part of this God-given archipelago, where every province, city and town have their very own unique treasures to share with the rest of the world," Jarque said.

He inducted the new set of officers of the Cebu Travel and Tours Association for 2002, which includes president Marilou Ordoñez, vice president Cecille Sa-a, secretary Lilian Montecillo, assistant secretary Shiela Colmenares, treasurer Leani Juntarciego, assistant treasurer Steve Alfafara, public relations officer Alice Queblatin, auditor Marisol Barria, and directors Jenny Franco, Marget Villarica and Beth Reyes.

This year’s VTTF had over a hundred exhibitors from the private sector, composed of airlines, shipping lines, hotels, resorts, transportation companies, tour operators, travel agencies and restaurants. Likewise, the Tourism Councils of Camiguin, Ormoc, Maasin, Puerto Princesa, Biliran and the Tourism offices of Eastern Samar, Region VII, Macau and Thailand had their own booths that highlighted the attractive features of their islands and the culture of its people.

Admission to the fair was free. This afforded the guests to watch a fashion show with Cebu Travel personalities and Miss Cebu 2002 and her court taking the romp, cultural presentations, join fun games and a chance to win free trips to exciting destinations and overnight stays at hotels and resorts.