MESSAGES
The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) has been the leading partner of the government in the promotion and development of the country’s tourism industry for close to 40 years.
The PTAA has never wavered in its commitment towards seeing a vibrant tourism industry where the Philippines becomes a leading destination for travelers while providing the opportunity for our countrymen to travel the world more.
More importantly, our association wants to see the tourism industry provide employment and improve the lives of our countrymen.
Right now, there is reason for optimism within our association. The Department of Tourism is projecting 2018 arrivals to reach 7.1 million with year-on-year growth at above seven percent, higher than the three to five percent world growth average.
This means there is significant room for growth among tourism stakeholders in the country. The industry is growing rapidly. Tourism is now the third engine for Philippine economic growth after the remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers and the Information Technology-Business Process Management sector.
For the PTAA, there is long term optimism as we consider that under National Tourism Development Plan for 2016 to 2022, there is a joint effort between the government and the private sector to develop a globally competitive, environmentally sustainable and socially responsible tourism industry that promotes inclusive growth.
The PTAA’s flagship project, the annual Travel Tour Expo (TTE), is aimed at ensuring the country’s tourism industry grows at its projected pace and beyond it.
PTAA-TTE is already on its 26th year. It is that one time of the year when all travel and tourism stakeholders are gathered under one roof to provide the public with the opportunity to travel, be it for their vacations or for work, at dropdown cost.
For the companies, associations, organizations, and embassies present, it is also a time for them to network and seek new partnerships that would be beneficial for them in the long term. It is also a time for them to better understand the public needs and wants for their travel.
There is also the fourth International Trade Expo, a business-to-business event where the PTAA matches its members with foreign counterparts for them to establish linkages that will allow them to offer expanded services and products to their clients.
In microcosm, the TTE represents the current state of Philippine tourism – buoyant, thriving, and making a difference in the lives of our countrymen.
With most destinations in the world now easily accessible, this has become an exciting time to travel for everyone.
At the Travel Tour Expo, the country’s biggest annual travel and tourism event, we make it even easier for everyone to see the world.
With preparations for the 26th edition of the expo exceeding over 10 months, we at the Philippine Travel Agencies Association want to ensure that those who will come will have the widest array of options for their travels available to them.
We want to ensure that every one going to the Travel Tour Expo will have a smooth, enjoyable, and productive experience that at the end of the day will provide them with their dream vacation for themselves, their families, and friends.
We also expect the expo as the place where companies, associations, and organizations will book all their meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions plans for the year.
Consider the fact that we are again using the entire 16,230 square meters of available space at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City and from there visualize how enormous the Travel Tour Expo has become.
We have more than 400 exhibitors offering the best travel packages at dropdown rates that would never be again available anytime this year.
The Travel Tour Expo will have stakeholders from the entire spectrum of the travel and tourism industry including airlines, hotels, resorts, theme parks, cruise lines, travel agencies, tour operators, national tourism organizations, embassies, and Philippine government agencies. Also being staged alongside the Travel Tour Expo is the fourth edition of the International Travel Trade Expo, the business-to-business side of the expo. We see great potential in the International Travel Trade Expo as it gives our member travel agencies the chance to evolve their business and expand their network without going abroad. For this year’s edition of the International Travel Trade Expo, we have lined up 14 international companies that are eager to showcase their products and services to our members. At the same time, we also want to give them a glimpse of the Philippines, so that when they return home, they themselves become tourism ambassadors for our country. It is an honor for us, through the Travel Tour Expo, to provide our countrymen with the opportunity to see more of the Philippines and the rest of the world.