PANGLAO ISLAND, BOHOL – The Department of Tourism cites the gains of the recently held Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines in Panglao Island in Bohol on September 22-24, 2020, with the distinction of being the first hybrid major travel trade event to transition amidst the pandemic.
“We pivoted this year’s PHITEX to convey the message that the Philippine tourism industry always means business, be in usual or unusual times. This year’s hybrid set-up was made in consideration of the tourism sector’s patriotic duty to initiate efforts towards recovery, as well as to prove that travel and business events are possible in the new normal scenario,” noted Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
PHITEX 2020’s virtual platform gathered 122 international buyers from 34 countries, with 345 seller delegates from 161 companies in various tourism industry subsectors. The platform recorded 84,946 engagements, including 9,155 business to business (B2B) sessions. As of 19 October, 3,956 contacts were established, averaging 28 contacts per seller, and 1,205 leads were generated, with a 70% success rate that is even higher than the lead generation success rate of 67% in the last PHITEX. The 76 bookings secured on-site generated a total projected revenue valued at over PHP42.1M.
Sixteen leading tourism industry players and lawmakers were featured in discussions on strategies and innovations projected to shape the sector in the post-COVID world. In between appointments and sessions, “Philippines 360” games and quizzes on Philippine arts and culture were available on demand. The platform also curated a virtual tour of Manila, and provided links to Philippine tourism videos.
The delegates in Bohol had the opportunity to benchmark with properties, and experience Bohol’s new normal tourism products recalibrated under the visionary leadership of Governor Arthur Yap.
“PHITEX indeed fulfilled what it set out to prove that as long as health and safety protocols are followed, tourism can go on in the new normal, giving memorable experiences for tourists, jobs to tourism workers and allied industries, and a much-needed boost to the economy,” remarked Secretary Romulo-Puyat.
Reference:
Maria Febbie Alacapa
Acting Head, Media Relations and Communications Division
[email protected]
0908 890 7366
