Travel bargains await Pinoys in Tour Expo 2011

Filipino travelers looking for bargains and new destinations have a wide array of choices from more than 450 booths when the Travel Tour Expo 2011 opens at the SMX convention center in Pasay City this month. In a news conference Tuesday, officials of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said their 18th travel fair on Feb. 18-20 is the biggest so far. More than 240 travel and tourism companies offering packages for destinations as far away as South America and Africa are joining the event this year.

In addition, several foreign tourism offices are putting up exhibits “so people can get an idea what to expect in a destination," PTAA outbound chairperson Maucie Cuna said. The tourism offices of Taiwan, Macau, Guam, Czech republic, Japan, China and other countries will bring replicas of their landmarks, specialty food, and cultural artifacts to entice Filipino tourists, she added. At the same time, travel operators are promoting domestic travel strongly especially during long weekends, Cuna said. “We noticed that local residents are now very much aware of local travel destinations," she said. Tour operators are bullish about the Philippine travel industry, both domestic and international, due to the availability of more varied options and the depreciation of the dollar. “It’s going to be very positive," said PTAA President Ma. Paz Alberto. “The economy is on the rebound so we expect a lot of traveling this year." She said airlines are offering as much as 65 per cent discounts on plane fares and “buy one, take one" options that can only be booked during the three-day event. Travel operators are eyeing both budget travelers and the upscale leisure market for the exclusive deals, Alberto said. A “surprise mascot from Resorts World Singapore" will also be present at the event, she added. An entrance fee of P50 will be charged for regular visitors to the travel fair, which carries the theme “Around the World in 3 Days" and features raffles, games, and entertainment shows. – Yasmin Arquiza, GMA News More details about the travel fair are available on Twitter and Facebook.