Surviving the 18th Travel Tour Expo

I've always wanted to go to Batanes, but the travel expenses are a problem. When we heard there would be a "buy one, take one" offer on airline tickets, we knew it was too good to pass up, so we braved the crowd at the 18th Travel Tour Expo 2011: Around the World in 3 Days. "Buy one, take one" deals and fifty percent discounts are just some of the many reasons to attend the travel fair. With over 230 exhibitors and more than 400 booths, visitors can get good travel deals from travel gear to airline tickets to complete tour packages. Unbelievably good deals like 1,610 pesos for a one-way ticket to Boracay aren't easy to come by, and it's the exclusivity that makes the travel fair worth waiting for. Most of the offers are available only during the travel fair, and seasoned travelers who know this are usually there on the first day, lining up outside the convention center even before the gates open. Covering four halls, the expo floor area is almost one hectare, and to see all the exhibits in a day would be a feat. With an event this large, things can get difficult. "Stress ito ah, 'di ko ine-expect. Kaya pala sinabing maaga pumunta. Akala ko joke lang, pero apparently not," said a woman in line for tickets at the Seair booth. Still, thousands of people stick it out because, in the end, the thousands of pesos that can be saved are more than worth the trouble. It helps to attend the fair with a companion, or two, or more. To book a flight can take as long as three hours, and by the time you get your receipt, it's unlikely you'll be willing to go through the process again. "Kailangan marami kayo, 'di kaya ng isang tao," observed a man who had been waiting in line for two hours. However, if you come with the clear intention to score a specific deal, it's quite possible to do so alone. "I've been doing this for years," said the man behind us, who was in line to get tickets for their annual family vacation. "Hinihintay talaga namin ito, kasi sayang. Magbabakasyon ka rin naman talaga, mas magandang kunin yung mga promo tapos pagdating na lang doon, mag splurge ka," he advised. While many people at the fair had obviously been planning their purchases way before, checklists in hand, some were completely new to the idea. "There are a lot of people already! Did they open the doors earlier?" asked one visitor as he entered the hall at 10:05 am. Though the fair had been open for a mere five minutes, the hall was already filled with people. Several people made a beeline for their target booths, mostly airlines offering sweet deals that sold like hotcakes. Apart from discounted fairs, fly now, pay later offers tempted unprepared visitors. "Kung alam ko lang na ganito, nag-ipon na ako para makarami," said a man as he purchased buy one, take one tickets to Batanes. The choices were dizzying, and the options ranged from destinations as close as Enchanted Kingdom to as far as Europe. Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said the agency is pursuing a national tourism development which includes a new Pilipinas Tara Na campaign. Under the campaign, the older Biyahe Tayo song will be revived. "Filipinos are known for our musicality," said Lim during the opening ceremonies. "We're also exhibiting a lot of our own travel destinations. You may find some of your best travel experiences right here," added Lim. Sure enough, package tours to Bacolod, Davao, Dumaguete, and Legazpi were just some of the countless offers at the fair. Attending the travel fair is an experience in itself. While booking a flight or planning your itinerary are only the first steps to traveling, going through the process of exploring the options is already exciting and memorable. Some booths have large displays of travel destinations, and should they be beyond your budget, you can pose for a "souvenir" photo instead. As a steady stream of visitors entered the hall, some trickled out with triumphant smiles on their faces after successfully booking a flight or two. After all, there's nothing like the promise of adventure to make one giddy with excitement. As the Travel Tour Expo chairperson Ma. Paz Alberto says, "If you're not traveling, you're not living." The Travel Tour Expo runs from February 18 to 20, 2011 at the SMX Convention Center, Seashell Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. — TJD, GMA News