MANILA, (PNA) — Top tourism executives from 21 countries will be coming to the Philippines this month to attend a series of meetings meant to keep up with the growth of their respective travel and tourism industries.
According to the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), these top tourism executives will be attending the 2nd International Travel Tour Expo (iTTE) slated on February 10 to 12 on-one business-to-business (B2B) meetings with executives from 44 tourism companies and national tourism organisations from 21 countries.
Among the countries and territories participating include Australia, Cambodia, China, Egypt, France, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United States, and Vietnam.
Currently, more than 190 members of the PTAA and non-member travel agents from across the country have sought appointments with the international delegation.
PTAA immediate past president and current Travel Tour Expo (TTE) chairperson Maria Michelle Reyes-Victoria said the B2B meetings will be a venue for local travel agencies to expand their services.
“Those meetings are important to our members as it gives them the opportunity to look at potential partners in those countries for both inbound and outbound travel especially now that ASEAN has launched a campaign to promote the region as a single tourism destination,” Victoria said.
She said that because the tourism industry is evolving, and tourists are going beyond the traditional tourist spots, the PTAA wants its members to be abreast of new developments.
“Last year, the PTAA provided a record number of trainings and seminars for our members. As the operations of travel agencies go beyond the travel bookings, the association has been giving them new learnings from the use of the latest technologies to know-how in working with government agencies and embassies,” she added.
She said that with the iTTE and TTE, the association provides the public with easier and cheaper access to their travels and ensures viability of travel agencies and tour operators while also promoting the growth of Philippine tourism.
The TTE, which is now on its 24th year, is the flagship project of the PTAA. It is now considered as the country’s biggest annual travel and tourism event.
