Philippines deemed key market for global travelers

CEBU, Philippines — United States-based travel consolidator International Travel Network (ITN) identified the Philippines as its new acquisition market, noting the rising interest of global travelers visiting the country in the era of “revenge travel.”

“We have identified the Philippines as a new acquisition market, and therefore we expect a lot more bookings during the coming months. Upon commencement of operations, it is anticipated that over 50,000 passengers will be served within the first year alone. This projected increase in customer base highlights the company’s ability to capitalize on emerging opportunities and effectively meet the demand for its services,” said Peter Vazan, ITN chief executive officer (CEO) in his recent visit to Cebu to receive the Philippine Airlines (PAL) recognition during the International Award 2023 that recognizes the contributions of partner travel agencies to the passenger sales and marketing programs of Philippine Airlines across the globe.

From the 1st of January to the 31st of May 2023, ITN recorded a growth of 12 percent inbound travel transactions compared to the first five months of 2023 to the same period in 2022.

In a broader perspective, compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, there has been an impressive increase of 25.8 percent. These statistics reflect a positive trend, said Vazan.

“The Philippines is the fourth country, where we have received International Air Transport Association (IATA) accreditation after the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom,” Vazan added.

ITN is Part of Trevolution Group, which incorporates the travel businesses of Dyninno Group of companies. The Group’s ticket sales to the Philippines grew 4.5 times versus 2021, with most buyers traveling to the country from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu, and Chicago.

“Thanks to the significant Filipino community in North America, the Philippines has been our key market for many years in a row. The increasing demand not only reflects the rising confidence in international travel but also indicates the Philippines’ ability to meet this growing demand. The country presents significant opportunities for tourism development, and Trevolution Group is thrilled to contribute towards the national objective of boosting tourist arrivals in the country,” Vazan commented during the PAL’s Awards International 2023 held on June 1st at Dusit Thani Mactan, Cebu.

The PAL Awards, which is held annually, made a triumphant return this year after a four-year hiatus due to the global pandemic that began in 2020.

ITN, renowned for providing travelers with the most competitively priced airfares from leading global airlines, has been awarded for being the third largest producer for the Philippine Airlines globally.

Through Asaptickets, Skyluxtravel, and other of its travel brands, ITN currently provides the fastest and easiest solutions to book a trip with the help of over 1,000 dedicated travel agents based in the Philippines alone.

PAL president and chief operating officer (COO) Stanley K. Ng thanked the awardees, including owners, general managers, and managing directors of international travel agencies for supporting PAL routes and services, as well as promoting and selling the Philippines as a more and more popular destination of choice.

“Thank you for your support to the Philippines’ tourism. You’ve been instrumental in propelling us to new heights. Together we are succeeding at reviving global tourism after three and a half long years,” Ng told travel stakeholders.

Trevolution Group incorporates the travel businesses of the Dyninno Group of companies, which provides products and services in the finance, travel, and entertainment sectors. Trevolution Group has established itself as the market leader in the travel business, specializing in the ‘visiting friends and relatives segment. Over 730,000 unique airline tickets and vacation packages were sold by the companies under the Trevolution Group brand in 2022, making it the fifth-largest travel consolidator in the United States.