PITF seen to boost Central Visayas as RP's tourism super-region

MANILA, Philippines - The forthcoming Philippine International Tourism Fair (PITF) 2009 will further widen and reinforce the global reputation of Central Visayas as the Philippines’ tourism super-region, with the Queen City of Cebu as its capital.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the foreign travel agents from Hong Kong, China, North America, Japan, Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries joining the PITF 2009 “will have a very gratifying personal experience on what this tourism super-region is all about.”

Durano was referring to the beautiful and colorful exhibits to be showcased by local exhibitors at the PITF and its many exciting activities, including pre- and post-event tours around the region for the foreign travel wholesale buyers.

“They (foreign delegates) will have a great time enjoying the best of the bests of Central Visayas, starting with the province of Cebu itself where the PITF will be held on June 25-27 at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu,” Durano said.

The foreign buyers include tour operators, travel agencies, retailers, corporate travel planners, specialized tour companies, incentive travel and wellness program organizers, and medical tourism intermediaries, among many others.

On the other hand, the sellers generally include the various sectors of the local tourism industry seeking new foreign markets for their tourism destinations, products and services.

Both parties will have business meetings on June 26 during the Travel Market Exchange (Tramex), which forms part of the three-day PITF 2009.

The Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC) will allot 8 to 9 a.m. of June 26 for the Tramex briefing and for the request session for onsite business appointments.

The marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, the PCVC handles and manages the Tramex, a full day of serious business negotiations between the foreign agents/buyers and local sellers/exhibitors.

“Tramex offers the opportunity for the local industry to deal directly with their foreign markets,” said chairman Angel Ramos Bognot of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies Inc. (NAITAS), the PITF organizer and the country’s biggest industry organization with over a thousand members nationwide.

“Aside from Tramex, the PITF 2009 also includes corporate exhibitions, seminars and educational sessions, business networking, marketing presentations, product launches, pre- and post-event tours, NAITAS general assembly, and many other activities,” Bognot said.

The PITF is the country’s premier and only global travel event held annually in Cebu.

Industry members who want to join the PITF and/or Tramex may call the PITF secretariat at 523-8375, 523-7504 or 523-7501 or e-mail at pitf_sec@yahoo.com or the Tramex secretariat at 525-9318 or 525-7320 or e-mail at ttu@dotpcvc.gov.ph.

Supported by the DOT and its attached agencies PCVC and the Philippine Tourism Authority, the PITF 2009 “will unveil the latest market trends and best industry practices, and generate optimum deals and long-term corporate alliances for our tourism sector,” Durano said.