This is the assessment of the Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa) which annually organizes the Philippine Travel Mart, the country’s largest travel trade exposition.
According to Felix Christopher Alegre, Philtoa president, more corporations are surveying the market for well-woven, travel-related management programs, as well as productivity, motivational and training schemes.
"These are positive indications that Philippine business is starting to appreciate the value of incentive travel and business programs which use highly coveted packages that involve our domestic destinations," Alegre says.
For this reason, he says, the Philtoa is crafting the 13th Philippine Travel Mart, slated in November this year, to be more responsive to the increased need for corporate enhancements through travel.
At the same time, he adds, Philippine tour operators are optimistic about increased domestic movement next year, a summer after the domestic travel sector received much-needed attention to buoy up flagging tourism from the overseas market.
Alegre says domestic tourism performance has benefited from joint government and private sector cooperation to help tourism-related businesses survive the post 9-11 travel chill and general economic challenges.
"Domestic tourism is still headed for an all-time high in our country, but the signs of its development as a lucrative sector for the travel and tourism industry are emerging and are energizing the industry in the process," Alegre says.
Alegre foresees that buyers for the forthcoming 13th PTM will continue to come in increasing numbers because of promotional inroads and expansion in the corporate market. This expectation is also based on the Philippine government’s earnest efforts to combat terrorism to improve the peace and order situation in the country.
The 13th PTM is slated on Nov. 22-24 at the SM Megatrade Halls 1 to 3 at the SM Megamall. Its theme is "Breaking the Barriers to Sustained Growth in Philippine Tourism."
Alegre cites the high visitor volume, exhibitor participation and total sales generated during the 12th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) held in November last year, barely two months after the World Trade Center tragedy in New York.
Philtoa reports that exhibitor participation in the trade fair increased 68 percent over the previous event while generating sales from a total of 41,759 buyers.
A Philtoa venture with the Department of Tourism for the promotion and development of "WOW Philippines" packages last year has also yielded significant domestic tourism interest from the public.
A Philtoa report on the usage of WOW packages last summer and during long weekends provided basis for better domestic travel in the immediate future.
Alegre also attributes the improve climate for domestic tourism to increased tourism appreciation by local governments which exert tremendous influence on the growth and development of tourism in their respective localities.
Philtoa has received early bookings for exhibition space for the 13th PTM through its event management team, Global Visions Events and Marketing Network Inc., which can be reached at 687-7704 or 687-7794 or e-mail address gve_mktgnet@pilnet.com.