Travel industry expects robust year

The travel industry is up in a buoyant mood as it toasts the success of the Travel Tour Expo ’06 (TTE ’06) recently mounted by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Philippine Airlines (PAL).

With gross earnings of P208 million and 66,000 visitors during its three-day run at SM Megamall, TTE ’06 is to date the most successful in its 13-year history.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano and Sen. Richard Gordon lauded TTE ’06 for its contribution to both international and domestic tourism. Rep. Edgar M. Chatto, chairman of the tourism committee of the Lower House, also rendered his all-out support to the event.

The good performance of TTE ’06 is due largely to the interesting mix of travel products and destinations at the expo.

"We attribute the success of TTE ’06 to the fact that there is now among the Filipinos not only the need, but the desire to travel. Another thing that was also highlighted during TTE ’06 is the significant increase in interest on domestic travel as shown by the brisk business made by many local resorts and destinations," said Lucille Chabeldin, chairperson, TTE ’06 organizing committee.

TTE ’06 featured a formidable roster of 181 exhibitors in 308 booths, including travel agencies, tour operators, cruise operators, travel shops, airlines, resorts, national tourist organizations, governments, embassies, and other travel-related institutions.

Among this year’s exhibitors, the Macau government Tourist Office and the Cagayan Valley Region Ecotours won the top prizes as the "Best Decorated Booth" in the international and domestic pavilion. Japan Airlines bagged the "Most Popular Award" in the international pavilion while Philippine Airlines won in the domestic pavilion. The Guam Visitors’ Bureau claimed the "Best Marketing Effort Award" in the international pavilion, while Cebu Pacific triumphed in the domestic pavilion.

TTE ’06 was sponsored by Air Philippines Corp., Bank of the Philippine Islands (the official credit card of TTE ’06), Galileo Asia, LLC-Philippine branch, Globe Telecom, New Life Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery Center Inc., and Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc. (The Travel Club). Media partners include Crossover 105.1, Air Sea Guide Philippines, Discovery Philippines/7107 Islands Publishing Inc., The Foreign Post, and Travel Update, Philippines while BCS Systems & Technologies Inc., is the visitor registration systems provider.