Phitex '09 to give insight into foreign markets
MANILA, Philippines - Executives of local tourism-related firms joining the Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex) 2009 stand to generate not only good business over the short term, but also a working knowledge of their target foreign markets and how they can lucratively boost their product development efforts accordingly over the long term.
“That certainly makes Phitex geared toward developing both foreign markets and local tourism products as required by country-specific demand and international quality standards,” Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said.
“Such is the reason why Phitex 2009 includes educational seminars with prominent speakers comprehensively discussing the outbound markets in their respective countries,” he added.
The speakers are from Scandinavia, China, Italy, France, Japan, India, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Middle East, and the Philippines.
They include A Marketing Service chairman Lena Skogstorm Ericson, Interface Tourism assistant managing director Serena Valle, Global Tourism Interface’s Philippe Maugnier, Durga Das Publications managing director San Jeet, marketing representative Edward Grigoriev of Russia, and Gretz Communication senior partner Simone Wasselfallen.
Also in the roster of speakers are Retirement and Healthcare Coalition project manager Marc Daubenbuenchel, Leo Fewtrell of the Middle East, Tribu Outdoors marketing director Chip Childers, Archipelago tourism consultant Toby Martin, and Val Camara of Sun and Sports Sys.
Organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), through its marketing arm, the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC), Phitex is an annual marketing event designed to globally strengthen the country’s tourism brand and encourage local participants to promote affordable and competitive tourism packages.
At least 199 big travel agents from 27 countries worldwide are joining Phitex 2009, which is slated at the SMX Convention Center on Sept. 2 to 4.
“Aside from the educational seminars on foreign markets for local sellers, Phitex ’09 involves pre-event tours for foreign buyers and one full-day of pre-arranged meetings where both groups transact business individually,” Durano said.
The business meetings will be held on Sept. 3 during the Travel Exchange (Travex), which is regarded as the most important part of Phitex.
A total of 28 pre-scheduled appointments will be given each delegate for the table-top discussions during the Travex.
The foreign buyers are coming from Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.
They will meet with 193 delegates from 109 Philippine seller firms, 137 of which are from hotels and resorts, 45 from tour operators, four from airlines, and six from other sectors.
The foreign buyers will also visit the Philippine Travel Mart at SM Megamall to view the country’s tourism exhibits, DOT Undersecretary Edu Jarque said.
“With the theme ‘Explore, Experience… The Philippines is made to be traveled!’ Phitex 2009 showcases the country’s unique attractions and destinations and the many exciting activities they offer,” Jarque said.
Supporting the event are Philippine Airlines, Philippine Tour Operators Association, Philippine Travel Agencies Association and the Hotel Sales Managers Association, with Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pan Pacific Hotel, Traders Hotel, Heritage Hotel, Diamond Hotel and Hyatt Hotel & Casino as official hotels.
For more information, contact the Phitex 2009 Secretariat of the PCVC at 525-7320 or 525-9318 to 27 local 263 and 258, e-mail at phitex2009@dotpcvc.gov.ph or log on to www.wowpinoy.net/phitex.
“It’s the industry support locally and globally that makes Phitex a consistent success year after year, contributing extremely to our sustained tourism growth,” Durano said.
