CEBU, Philippines – To further disperse the benefits of tourism to stakeholders and the host communities as well as encourage more people to travel, the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) has been holding its meetings in the provinces.
“Our thrust is to bring these general membership meetings attended by stakeholders in the industry to the provinces. Instead of NAITAS members coming to Manila to attend these assemblies, we are bringing these meetings to their areas,” NAITAS President Shiela Johnson said.
NAITAS recently held its 5th General Membership Meeting (GMM) and travel market exchange (TRAMEX) at the Crown Regency Hotel Cebu.
“The strategy will not only persuade more stakeholders to attend the gatherings but also give an opportunity for members, their families and staff to visit the various attractions in these areas and familiarize themselves with the destinations,” she added
The service industry like restaurants, hotels and transportation and the destinations in the areas where the meetings are being held are the immediate beneficiaries of the strategy as their businesses are expected to perk up.
“We want to spread the benefits of tourism to the local communities and help the local economies,” said Johnson, who brought almost 80 members from the different NAITAS chapters in Northern, Central and Southern Luzon to their Cebu gathering.
The first GMM of NAITAS, the country’s largest travel organization with 17 chapters nationwide, was held in San Rafael, Bulacan organized by the local NAITAS Chapter.
The second GMM was held in Talisay, Batangas under the CALABARZON Chapter and mobilized NAITAS members from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon or the Calabarzon area.
Last May, the meeting held in Subic and participated in by stakeholders from Zambales, Baguio City, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Pangasinan and other northern provinces.
The Cebu meeting brought over 80 members engaged in travel and tour operators from Northern and southern and Central Philippines, spanning from Palawan to Camiguin to Cebu, Bohol and Boracay, as well as those from other places who attended the 3rd Phil International Tourism Fair (PITF), a project of Department of Tourism and NAITAS. – THE FREEMAN