[ Manila Bulletin Online [ May 19, 2008 ]
The organizers and backers of two major tourism events in Cebu have agreed to jointly hold their activities to bring about what could be the largest international and local tourism fair in Central Philippines.
To be jointly held this year are the 2nd Philippine International Tourism Fair (PITF) organized by the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS), the country’s largest travel organization, and Cebu Business Month (CBM) Tourism Congress sponsored by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
The joint events are expected to attract the biggest participation from both international and local tourism stakeholders and bring in major buyers and sellers of tour packages.
The simultaneous holding of the twin events was made possible with the signing of a memorandum of partnership last Tuesday between NAITAS and CCCI with the support of the Department of Tourism, Cebu Visitors Convention Bureau, Hotel Restaurant and Resort Association, the local government units of Cebu, among others.
NAITAS Chairman Emeritus Robert Lim Joseph, one of the movers of the activity, said the twin events would further catapult Cebu to new heights as the country’s premier tourist destination.
Putting together the resources of NAITAS and CCCI as well as those of the Department of Tourism, the provincial government of Cebu, city government of Cebu and other tourism stakeholders to jointly hold this fair will surely accelerate the economic and cultural development of Cebu," Joseph said.
The organizers said the activity will eventually establish Cebu as the investment, educational, convention and entrepreneurial hub as well as the festival and leisure island of the Philippines.
Besides Joseph, those who signed the memorandum of partnership were Tess Chan, CBM chair; Mila Espina, CBM Tourism chair; Jay Aldeguer, CVCB chair, and Charles Lim of Skal International, among others.
Other tourism-oriented entities and destinations supporting the event are Philippine Airlines, Globe, Ng Khai Development Corp., Speechcom International, Waterfront Hotel, Marriott Hotel, Plantation Bay, Marco Polo Hotel, Mactan Island Resort, Hilton, Grand Holidays, The Parklane, Cebu Fortune Travel, Cafe Laguna, Alcordo Advertising and University of San Jose Recoletos.
Last year’s PITF, which coincided with the DoT’s Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex), attracted the participation of key travel and tourism-oriented executives and decision-makers from several countries as well as local sellers like owners of tourist destinations, tour operators, travel agencies, on-line travel companies, hotels and resorts, medical tourism hospitals and airlines.
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