Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2016 | Foreign Tour Operators and Buyers Looking at Davao’s Potential
The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), hosted the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2016, the country’s largest and most important annual travel trade event.
Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2016 | Foreign Tour Operators and Buyers Looking at Davao’s Potential
Photo from DOT Davao Region Facebook page
PHITEX 2016 Foreign buyers composed of Indonesians, American, Swiss and Thai nationals are welcomed at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport.
There are 220 international buyers, 40 countries, 220 local sellers, 145 companies doing business-to-business sessions on tourism, travel and trade opportunities and post tour events from September 6-10,2016.
The participants are from US, Norway, Italy, Denmark, and Germany as well as from neighboring Asian countries such as South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Susan Del Mundo of Tourism Promotions Board (leftmost), DOT Mindanao OIC Eden Larano-David (2nd from left), and Association of Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies President Mr. Ophan Lamara (3rd from right) with buyers from Indonesia, US, Switzerland and Thailand.
Media and Digital influencers with DOT Mindanao OIC Eden David
Part of the PHITEX post event tours in Davao City is getting interest from Indonesians, US, Swiss and Thai, the group of 16 buyers who were in the city to look into Davao region’s offerings on beach holiday, adventure, culture, nature, food and the various tourist facilities within the city and in Samal and Tagum cities.
Staff of Bistro Selera in SM Lanang Premier who served the dinner for the participants of the PHITEX post event tour in Davao City.
“Majority of the participants are from Indonesia and their interest is to push for a direct Manado – Davao flight so we can bring in divers, golfers and middle aged Indonesian tourists from Jakarta to do a twin destination of Manado – Davao,” DOT Mindanao OIC Eden Larano David mentioned.
“We are inviting Davao to do a roadshow in Jakarta to promote this twin destination as Indonesians now love to travel. They want to experience something new and interesting like Davao,” according to Mr. Ophan Lamara, President of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies whose members number to over two thousand.
In a related development, the BIMP-EAGA Joint Tourism Development meeting last August 26, 2016 in Balikpapan, Indonesia, pushed for the increased connectivity among member countries. Specifically highlighted are Davao – Manado; Sandakan – Zamboanga and possible triangular route Puerto Princesa – Cebu – Kuala Lumpur.
DOT Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo Teo herself pushed for Davao to be part of the PHITEX post tour activities as business is usual for Davao tourism. Source: PR from DOT Mindanao
