Where Do You Want to Go?
Get ready for the biggest, grandest travel fair next weekend.
Thirteen long weekends, 7,107 islands to choose from, and a minimum budget required. Philippine tourism is everybody’s ballgame.
Dubbing this year as the biggest tourism campaign yet, the Department of Tourism (DoT) announced 2015 as Visit the Philippines, luring both locals and foreigners to let their hair down, dip into the crystal clear waters, dig in, and experience what the Philippine streets, cities, provinces, and people have to offer.
VISIT THE PHILIPPINES and go to... Bangui Windmills
(Images by Ronald Jayme)
To make every budget travelers’ dream come true (well-heeled wanderers are welcome, too), the annual Travel Tour Expo (TTE) unveils its biggest travel treat happening from Feb. 13 to 15 at the SMX Convention Center. Now, the 22nd TTE is occupying the entire convention and tapping almost 300 major presenters including 24 airlines, 107 resorts and hotels, 15 national tourism organizations, six cruise ships, domestic tour operators, travel agencies, and other stakeholders to present their destinations, products, and services at low rates.
“I can assure you the discounts will be fantastic. All the other exhibitors are offering great discounts. The addition of 3,000 square meters adds to the comfort and choices of the visitors,” says TTE chairman Marciano Ragaza. He adds that some airlines are offering as much as 90 percent off and as low as 50 percent markdown for high-end resorts. “As far as the fare is concerned, airlines offer huge discounts because they love us,” he adds. “Seventy percent of their revenue still come from travel agencies like us.” TTE’s official airline partner is PAL.
While the DoT has a target of 10 million foreign visitors by 2016, and many tourists respond to its aggressive campaign, our facilities and infrastructure like hotel rooms and airport (the world’s eighth worst airport, according to Wall Street Cheat Sheet) and the entire system is seemingly not ready for this surge in arrival. The more pressing question now is seemingly not where one ought to go, but if your destination is ready for the tourists.
“We recognize the problems, but be assured that we are doing our best to be the best airport. I want to paraphrase what my boss says, ‘What do you want? Two hours in a lousy airport but four days in a beautiful beach—you cannot say that in other countries—or stay two hours in a beautiful airport and four days in a lousy beach? ” says Tourism Promotion Board chief operating officer Ramon Enorio III. He says that 8,000 new rooms in Metro Manila alone are opening, such as at the newly launched City of Dreams complex on Roxas Boulevard. Ramon says that the rise of the gaming and entertainment industry in the country is also among the additional come-ons for tourists. “But more than the gaming, we also want to focus on entertainment. People will bring their family to theater, to shop, and to dine. More and more facilities are allocated toward the hub,” Ramon says.
As for the budget, you know you’ll get the best deals at the expo. “There is a package for every budget and it will be definitely better and cheaper than when you buy it outside the expo. The budget depends on how far and how long you want to go but you can be assured that wherever destination you choose your budget will be stretched longer and you can have more destinations to visit,” says Mariano.
Besides Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, and Manila, the tourists can also get good deals for Batanes, Palawan, Baler, Tuguegarao, and Vigan among many other tourist destinations. There are international packages, too. The Korea Tourism Organization and Japan National Tourism Organization, among others, will set up their booths.
——————————————————————————————-
6 Winning Tips To Getting Good Deals
1. Seventy thousand people participated in last year’s travel expo, and TTE is expecting more visitors this year. The expo will start at 10 a.m., so line up early, even before the doors open.
2. Make a game plan. When visiting with your barkada, designate alleys and scour the entire SMX first before booking a package. Divide and conquer.
3. Ask as many questions before sealing the deal.
4. Prepare a credit card (TTE’s partner is Citibank), but you can also bring in cash.
5. Bring food and water so you won’t waste time looking for refreshments.
6. Check travel advisories, travel blogs, DoT website (itsmorefuninthephilippines.com) and Visit the Philippines website (http://phl2015.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/) for travel inspirations.
No comments:
Post a Comment