TERMINAL REPORT on the 20th TRAVEL TOUR EXPO 2013 February 15-17, 2013 / SMX Convention Center, MOA

Complex, Pasay City The 20th TravelTour Expo (TTE) 2013 is an annual travel fair organized by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) in cooperation with the Department of Tourism Tourism Promotions Board. It is considered as the countrys ultimate shopping destination for the best travel deals, as it features 532 booths from the major airlines, hotels, resorts, travel agencies, tour operators, national and regional tourism agencies, embassies and more. The three-day travel fair which was scheduled last February 15-17, 2013 was packed with people who flocked the event to avail discounts offered by airlines, hotels, resorts as well as travel agencies promoting and selling their tour packages for domestic and international travels. Most importantly, the event was also participated by international exhibitors through their tourism offices such as South Africa, Hawaii, Guam, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Hongkong, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia. Exhibit hours were from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The DOT-Region V was one of the exhibitors of this years TTE. Its booth, located strategically in the huge halls of the SMX Convention Center, showcased the best of Bicol destinations/attractions, facilities and services. Together with the active members of the Accredited Travel Agencies Association (ACTA) Bicol such as the Perfect Cone Travel & Tours, Roam International Travel and Tours, Human Explore Travel and Tours, Verdana Travel and Tours, and Your Brother Travel and Tours, the Bicol booth display has been supervised and manned by the undersigned, with the valuable assistance of another DOT V staff, Milo Oropesa. Around 1,500 tourism collaterals which included EZ maps Bicol, Albay, Camarines Norte, brochures of Albay, Sorsogon, Donsol and flyers of CWC have been distributed to those who visited the booth, not to mention the tour packages distributed by the participating ACTA members. Free tasting of pili candies and small items souvenirs are given to those who visited the Bicol booth. Day 1 The 20th Travel Tour Expo 2013 opened its Emerald Edition at the sprawling exhibit area of Halls 1, 2, 3, 4 and Function Room 5 of the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Leading the ribbon cutting ceremonies were Department of Tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez (front, center) together with PTAA president John Paul Cabalza, and 20th Travel Tour Expo 2013 (TTE 2013) chairperson Aileen Clemente (front, 2nd and 4th from left). Looking on are (front, from left) Solaire Resort & Casino Manila chief operating officer Michael French and Miss Tourism International 2013 Rizzini Alexis Gomez. Joined by TTE 2013 major sponsors (behind, from left) Duty Free Philippines chief operating officer Lorenzo Formoso, Citibank senior vice president for retail marketing Alma Gruenberg, Samsungs Francis Reyes, Philippine Airlines vice president for sales Enrique Javier and country manager Gina Mae Flores. They went around the exhibit area, visiting booth exhibits, which included the DOT-Region V display.

Day 2 Ongoing product presentations have been done on the stage by international booth exhibitors. Celebrity guest like Mr. Boy Abunda graced the event. He talked about his love for travels and adventure and of the places he liked best, which included Bicol, not only because our region is beautiful and peaceful, and our cuisines, mouthwatering, but also because of our people the Bicolanos for our warmth and friendliness. Day 3 The day was highlighted by a live-stream interview of the undersigned. The Bicol booth was one of the exhibitors chosen by the organizers to be featured for live-streaming of the day-to-day activities. Remarks/Recommendation: Considering the wide market of the TTE which are mostly travel agents, tourism-oriented and related establishments, businessmen, academe, tourism offices/establishments from both the domestic and international, thus, exposure of Bicol to and great networking have been established by the DOT-Region V and the ACTA, with these various markets. These would mean strong linkages with the frontliners of the tourism industry, with the end view of more revenues for Bicol as more quality tourists would come and visit our region. For this participation to travel exhibits, particularly to the annual Travel Tour Expo is hereby recommended.