2010 Philippine Travel Mart to highlight Subic Bay anew

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Subic Bay’s unique tourist attractions will once again become a major highlight of this year’s Philippine Travel Mart (PTM), the country’s largest and longest-running travel, tourism and trade fair.

On its 21st year, 2010 Philippine Travel Mart is organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) in cooperation with the Department of Tourism.

This year’s theme, “Wow I Love Philippines” further boosts PTM’s focus on the “one thousand and one ways to enjoy the beautiful, scenic and exciting Philippines.”

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is a major partner of the Philippine Travel Mart 2010 that will be held on September 3-5 at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

The SBMA Tourism Department said some 12 locators and business establishments and stakeholders in Subic Bay Freeport have joined the SBMA to complete “Team Subic Bay,” participating in various activities the team has prepared for the event.

These establishments are: Treetop Adventure, Courtyard Inn, Subic International Hotel, Vista Marina, Traveler’s Inn and Venezia Hotel & Casino, Bayfront Hotel, Subic Holiday Villas, Forest View, Moonbay Marina Villas, as well as Subic Grand Seasons Resort and Olongapo City – based Wild Orchid Resort.

Team Subic Bay immediately began preparations soon after the memorandum of agreement between SBMA Administrator Armand C. Arreza and PHILTOA President Cesar R. Cruz was signed last month, sealing the partnership for this year’s Philippine Travel Mart.

Subic Bay was proven to be a top draw in last year’s PTM, benefiting tremendously from the annual travel event, which brought in thousands of local and foreign corporate buyers, consumers and other stakeholders in a single venue for travel and tourism.

Participating stakeholders from Subic Bay each raked in sales ranging from P25,000.00 to as high as P3.2 million as a result of Team Subic Bay’s networking activities at the 20th PTM.

Last year’s PTM drew around 180 international buyers from countries like Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Hongkong, North America, India, South Africa, Taiwan, China and Singapore.

Arreza said that tourism developments in Subic revolve exactly around what are considered the freeport’s jewels – its unspoiled beaches and virgin tropical forests.

“Our top tourist draws – the Treetop Adventure, Zoobic Safari and Ocean Adventure, to name a few, offer unique adventures which we constantly upgrade by introducing new activities like bird-watching,” Arreza said.

Only recently, Subay Bay has been named by the DOT as one of the country’s official sites for bird-watching, a young but increasingly popular activity among international tourists.

He also said the SBMA has a successful partnership with the PHILTOA, which is the biggest association of tour operators and agencies that exclusively promote domestic and inbound tourism.

A 21-square-meter pavilion showcasing the complete set of Subic attractions will be set up by the SBMA in the exhibit hall of the event.

Activities prepared by Team Subic Bay include an animal show courtesy of Zoobic Safari, production numbers by Teatro Gat-Aitab of Subic Bay’s Mondriaan Aura College and audio-visual presentations, as well as raffle giveaways from participating Subic Bay establishments.