The Rise of NextGen Tourism: Redefining the Travel Experience
The country’s premier and longest-running travel fair, Philippine Travel Mart (PTM), returns for its 35th edition at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The three-day event features around 300 exhibitors set up across four halls (Halls 1-4) of the convention center—the biggest PTM held since the pandemic.
Philippine Travel Mart 2024
Organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Associations (PHILTOA) and co-presented by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the event brings together travel agencies, local and regional tourism offices, local artisans and social enterprises, airlines, hotels, and resorts to offer the event goers mini regional tours, flight discounts, staycation deals, and cheap travel packages.
“The 2024 Philippine Travel Mart offers a one-stop shop for travel enthusiasts to explore new destinations plan their trips, and avail of exclusive discounts,” said Maria Lourdes F. Japson, PHILTOA’s First Vice President.
DOT Regional Offices from all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao also have their booths set up, which showcase the country’s diverse destination, rich culture and history, traditional arts and performances, local products and culinary delights. These regional exhibition booths are so vibrant that they will surely ignite one’s desire to travel around the country and experience them first-hand.
The 35th Philippine Travel Mart formally opened on September 6, Friday, with a “tree planting” ceremony (instead of the usual ribbon cutting) led by PHILTOA President Arjun Shroff. Enlivening the fair’s opening salvo was the vibrant performances by the visiting cultural dancers from different regions.
Philippine tourism secretary Cristina Garcia-Frasco, TPB Chief Operating Officer Margarita Nograles, tourism undersecretaries and regional directors, diplomats, local chief executives and other tourism industry leaders graced the first day of the travel fair. In his opening remarks, Shroff put emphasis on this year’s theme, “Love the NextGen Tourism,” which revolves around tourism practices that will “benefit the future generations” through its four pillars: Sustainability (eco-friendly travel that protects the environment and supports local communities), Digitization (smart traveling via using intuitive apps), Inclusivity (supporting community-based tourism) and Health and Wellne ss (travel that enhances one’s well-being).
Staging the Philippine Travel Mart is one of PHILTOA’s initiatives to boost local tourism.
“Through the event, we are able to empower all the regional members and partners to come meet their customers face to face. This creates a lot of jobs in the tourism industry to help support the nation’s tourism growth,” said Shroff.
Meanwhile, in her keynote speech, Frasco expressed gratitude toward PHILTOA for the organization’s support to the country’s ever-evolving tourism industry through the years, especially in this era of the recent pandemic when the industry has taken a hard hit.
The Philippine Travel Mart runs from September 6 to 8, 2024 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Tickets may be purchased online at www.philtravelmart.com/buyticket. For more details, visit philtravelmart.com, email philtravelmart@philtoa.com and follow @philtravelmart on Facebook and Instagram.
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Read: 35th Philippine Travel Mart 2024: Love the NextGen Tourism
