August 11, 2007 | 12:00am
Even as controversies continue to hound the province-owned Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City, the Philippine International Tourism Fair 2007 is set to be held there from September 5 to 7, 2007.
The PITF 2007, the country’s only international business-to-business travel trade fair, aims to renew the Philippine image as a world-class tourism destination and put the Philippines in the global tourism map with its attractive tourist destinations.
“Cebu and Central Philippines are now the intense focus of Philippine tourism promotion through the PITF,” said PITF 2007 chairwoman Angel Bognot.
The event is being organized in conjunction with the Department of Tourism’s Philippine Travel Exchange 2007 wherein more than 120 of the world’s top travel decision-makers are attending.
The PITF 2007 is being supported by DOT, Philippine Tourism Authority, the Province of Cebu and the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, among others.
“We have chosen Cebu to be the centerpiece of our marketing program because it has all the elements and ingredients of a perfect tourist destination. If we succeeded in promoting and selling Cebu, definitely there will be renewed interest in our other tourist destinations,” Bognot said.
Bognot emphasized that the situation in Cebu is optimal for hosting an international event of this caliber.
“Plus the fact that you have a very supportive local government in Cebu and a newly-built Cebu International Convention Center, so you have a venue to stage an event like this,” she told the press.
According to Bognot, the image of Cebu as a beautiful and peaceful tourist destination was the reason they did not have hard time inviting influential foreign buyers of tour packages.
“Naniwala kami na even the other smaller destinations from Luzon to Visayas to Mindanao would be able to get their share of the pie. They can also become great tourist destinations in the near future,” Bognot stressed. — Gregg M. Rubio/BRP
