TTE 2019 opens with a festive vibe
THE Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) officially opens the 26th Travel Tour Expo (TTE) with a festive ceremony graced by Sen. Nancy Binay, Chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism; Davao Oriental Rep. Corazon Malanyaon; Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, Jr. and members of the diplomatic community.
The TTE is tagged as the country’s biggest annual travel and tourism exposition with over 400 exhibitors featuring the biggest airlines, hotels, resorts, theme parks and cruise lines worldwide. It also includes tourism companies from countries such as Australia, Cambodia, France, Guam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
It is when tourism industry players come together and offer the widest range of products and services at dropdown rates that are only exclusive to the expo. The TTE has been a boost to Philippine tourism for the past 26 years.
PHILIPPINE TOURISM AN ECONOMY BOOSTER
In 2018, the Philippines recorded 7.13 million in tourist arrivals while domestic travel almost hit the 100 million mark — both the highest ever recorded.
“We look at TTE as a vehicle which will provide the opportunity for every Filipino to realize their travel wants, needs and dreams,” says Marlene Dado Jante, TTE 2019 organizing committee chairperson. “We wanted to ensure that we have the right set of exhibitors and that the experience for all those going to the expo will be very seamless.”
“We also wanted the TTE to be an entirely unique experience in itself which the whole family will be able to enjoy. We look at the expo and see it as a place that is bursting with fun-filled activities throughout the three-day run,” she added.
In 2017, the travel and tourism sector contributed to a total of P3.35 trillion to the Philippine economy, or about 21 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a World Travel and Tourism Council report. Apart from this, the sector directly supported around