MANILA, Philippines - Top officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) will open the North Luzon Expressway’s “Tara Na Sa Norte†Tourism and Travel Fair 2013 at the Atrium, Robinson’s Place Manila today.
DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. has been invited by event organizers MNTC and MPTC to lead the business community in opening the fair as guest of honor and keynote speaker.
Jimenez is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at 4 p.m. after the welcome remarks by MNTC president Rodrigo Franco, special message by MPTC president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez, and a special number by Banda Kawayan.
Jimenez’s keynote speech is expected to touch on the status of the tourism industry, the DOT’s plans for the next three years, and the prospects of North Philippines as an international and domestic destination during that period.
The keynote speech will kick off the tour of the exhibit shortly after the closing remarks by MNTC vice president for marketing Renie Ticzon.
Preceding the opening rites are mascot parade and entertainment at 3 p.m., and audio-visual presentations at 10:30 a.m. by the DOT regional offices in Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos and Pangasinan, and Cagayan Valley, followed by the presentations of Microtel, Azalea Residences Baguio, and Punta Rivera Resort.
There will also be fun games by Cebu Pacific at 5 p.m., presentation by Maynilad on the importance of water resources in tourism at 6 p.m., another by MNTC on the role of road infrastructure, and fun games and raffle draws by EasyTrip to cap the day.
The succeeding days will feature a special presentation by TIEZA, Break the Ice and Game Play by Air Asia, the Subic Bay Hour, and many other fun and entertainment activities, as mall-goers and travel enthusiasts go around for travel and tour packages and other related products and services highlighting the uniqueness of the North.
The fair is organized by the MNTC, builder and concessionaire of the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), to help the northern regions promote their destinations and attractions.
The fair includes such special events as corporate game shows, raffle draws of airline tickets and other gift certificates from hotels and resorts, tourism quiz bee, flairtending exhibitions, and marketing and product presentations.
The DOT regional offices in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos and Pangasinan (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), and Central Luzon (Region 3) will have their own display booths to feature popular, new and emerging tourism destinations and attractions that are unique to each region.
The exhibitors include Air Asia, Microtel Inns and Suites, Fersal Hotel Group, Philippine Retirement Authority, Punta Riviera Resort, Dinoisland/Clarkland, Puerto del Sol, Azalea Residences, Java Hotel, Plaza del Norte, Terrace and Bayfront Hotel, Subic International Hotel, Camp John Hay, Treetop Adventures, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Subic Travel Hotel, Dasoland, Easy Trip, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Sun Cellular, Pampanga’s Best, Sweet Heaven Food Products, Edver Footwear, Edwarson Leathercraft, D5L Embroidery, NEEDCO, EM Leathercraft, City of Alaminos, province of La Union, and the Tarlac and Nueva Ecija convention and visitors bureaus, among others.
The fair is sponsored by Cebu Pacific, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Maynilad Water Inc. and Smart, supported by Robinsons Land Corp. and North Philippines Visitors Bureau, and managed by the Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp.