The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines will hold its 18th Regional Travel Fair in Cotabato City from August 14 to 16, putting the spotlight on tourism opportunities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The three-day event, to be held at the Alnor Hotel and Convention Center, comes as BARMM advances its Tourism Development Plan 2025-2033, a long-term roadmap aimed at strengthening the region’s tourism industry and increasing its contribution to local economies.
TPB, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), said the fair will connect tourism businesses with buyers while giving travelers access to domestic travel deals.
“Beyond traditional business matchmaking, the RTF serves as a platform for buyers, sellers, and travelers to discover more reasons to love the Philippines while opening opportunities for long-term partnerships,” TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles said.
The fair will open on August 14 with a business-to-business session involving 42 buyers and 52 sellers and exhibitors. Participants will present tourism products, explore partnerships and seek potential bookings.
A business-to-consumer segment will follow on August 15 and 16, offering the public special deals on domestic tour packages, airline tickets and accommodations.
The event will also feature tourism showcases involving DOT regional offices and attached agencies, BARMM tourism stakeholders, local government units and industry partners.
Invited buyers, sellers and members of the media will take part in familiarization tours of Cotabato City and nearby destinations, including the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque of Cotabato, the Bangsamoro Museum, Al Jamelah Weaving Center and Illana Bay Beach Resort.
The tours are designed to highlight the region’s Islamic heritage, cultural traditions and tourism attractions while introducing industry participants to destinations that could be incorporated into travel packages.
The Cotabato fair is being organized by TPB in collaboration with the DOT, BARMM’s Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism, and the Cotabato City government.
Organizers said the event seeks to expand market access for tourism enterprises and communities in BARMM and help turn the region’s cultural and natural attractions into sustainable economic opportunities.
Business News Asia
