The province will be one of the two provinces to be extended a major highlight at the eight-day 2016 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) open last Monday at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila. The other featured province at the huge Philippine pavilion is Palawan.
Bannering the theme “One Community for Sustainabilityâ€, Bohol tourism stakeholders expect a productive meeting during the Travel Exchange(TRAVEX) starting today.
The Bohol delegation will come in full force with the government and private sectors joining hands together to further position Bohol as a prime destination in the country.
Among the private sector participants are Be Grand Resort, Bellevue Resort, Bluewater Resort (Panglao), Bohol Beach Club, Panglao Island Nature Resort & Spa and South Palms Resort. The private sector is backed up by the provincial government, city government as well as the local government units of Anda and Danao.
The ATF hosted by the Philippines is being participated by Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The regional forum aims to discuss innovations, trends and developments in the tourism industry and facilitate joint policy formulations to accelerate the growth of the region’s tourism and promote ASEAN as a multi-faceted single destination.
One of the highlights of the forum is the three-day TRAVEX (travel exchange) on January 20 to 22, the longest running annual ASEAN leisure travel trade event, showcasing the largest contingent of ASEAN sellers. Travex serves as a platform for the selling and buying of regional and individual tourism products of ASEAN member countries.
Bohol will occupy a 10-booth area pavilion inside the Philippine pavilion where one-to-one pre-scheduled business meetings will explore, negotiate and ink deals. The ATF TRAVEX aims to converge some 1,600 delegates which include more than 450 international buyers and 150 international media.
Representatives from leading regional and international media organizations will issue updates on the development and new trends in the tourism industry especially in the ASEAN region.
A media briefing on Wednesday afternoon will have DOT Undersecretary Art Boncato and Tourism Promotions Board COO Domingo Enerio as guests together also with Bohol Gov. Edgar M. Chatto and Palawan Gov. Alvarez, both provinces are the major featured destinations for the Philippines.
Moreover, official meetings by the ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) and Tourism Ministers, along with the association meetings by four ASEAN travel trade associations, namely: ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), Federation of ASEAN Travel Association (FATA), ASEAN Airlines Association (AAA) and ASEAN Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHRA) will be conducted for reviews, brainstorming sessions and giving of recommendations to further elevate the region’s tourism industry.
Post show tours will start on Saturday where 45 international buyers had initially signed up for the “Visayan Charm†(Cebu-Bohol) tour. (with reports from Ivy Dajaroc)