Travel Tour Expo at SMX

MANILA, Philippines - More than 100,000 travelers are expected to flock the booths during this year’s 24th Travel Tour Expo (TTE) on Feb. 10 to 12 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City to take advantage of big discounts in domestic and international travel fares and tour packages.

“We expect more deals to come out as we have more airlines participating, and we also expect more visitors to come because it’s really the most awaited expo and as of now a lot of people are already inquiring,” Philippine Travel Agencies Association  (PTAA) president Maria Michelle Reyes-Victoria said.

Considered the largest travel and tourism event in the country, PTAA’s TTE is seen to give a boost to the Philippine tourism industry.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said travel fairs, such as the TTE, stimulates the growth of travel suppliers in the value chain.

“With Filipinos going abroad, they become our tourism ambassadors,” Bengzon said.

Victoria, for her part, said TTE has placed a spotlight on the Philippines as a “favored and emerging tourism destination.”

According to Victoria, a total of 311 exhibitors, which include airlines, travel agencies, hotels and resorts, theme parks,  and national tourism organizations will be participating in this year’s expo, as compared to 331 last year.

She said the participants would be occupying larger booth spaces to accommodate more customers.