Excitement abounds for Philippine tourism at the 9th Regional Travel Fair in Sorsogon

Local tourism stakeholders were elated over the renewed interest and attention on Sorsogon and the Bicol region at the recently concluded hybrid edition of the 9th Regional Travel Fair (RTF) that featured #ExcitingBicol which ran from April 28 to May 01, 2022, at the Sorsogon Convention Center.

Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines and the Department of Tourism (DOT), this third hybrid edition of the RTF served as a venue for tourism stakeholders to promote and sell domestic tour packages, airline tickets, accommodation, and other tourism-related products and services to the public.

“As I stand before you with huge gratitude, this is a time of renewed commitment. Your presence here is a testament to that commitment that we all hold in our hearts individually and collectively, that we will steer the recovery of tourism through,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Anthonette Velasco- Allones.

The 9th RTF yielded a total estimated sales lead of Php9.9 million during the business-to-business sessions of 36 buyers and 49 sellers. It also generated 6,000 business leads and registered 983 attendees through its virtual platform.

Additionally, Php 295,000 actual sales were listed from the various local crafts and pasalubong sellers of the Department of Trade and Industry and the featured artisans which include Masbate’s Ayos Sapatos, Sorsogon’s KALIPI Weavers, Tagbung Crafts, and Kapetolyo, as well as Albay’s Natural Carpet Industries-NAPA and 1st Colonial – the home of the original sili ice cream.

A specially curated tourism webinar focusing on sales and marketing, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), and building a more gender-balanced, resilient, and sustainable Philippine travel industry was attended by 350 online and onsite participants.

This year’s first RTF sets a milestone as the first event held at the newly-built Sorsogon Convention Center, allowing the public to learn more about the province as an exciting destination not to be missed in tourists’ travel plans.

Meanwhile, Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero emphasized the need to share, more than the beauty of the places, the stories of each person visiting each destination during his welcome remarks “Ang turismo ay hindi lang sa simpleng magagandang beach, magagandang mga edipiso, at masasarap na pagkain. Para sa akin, higit sa lahat ng iyon, ang turismo ay tungkol sa kwento na pwedeng sabihin tungkol sa isang destinasyon,” said Governor Escudero.

After nearly two years of limited movement due to the coronavirus pandemic, DOT expressed its optimism at the RTF that the tourism sector is on its way to full recovery, assuring that the public’s health and safety continue to be its top priority as the country resumes full tourism operations.

TPB’s Regional Travel Fairs have gone a long way since it was launched in 2018 but have remained true to its form to provide the public a platform to fulfill their travel dreams and spread the word about why it’s still indeed more fun in the Philippines.