There are signs of a tourism recovery — many island destinations are reopening with less restrictions; some have removed the RT-PCR testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers; and airports are starting to get busy. Inquiries for travel packages for December are also starting to pour in, and travel and tour agents are once again preoccupied and optimistic.
The National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) is taking advantage of this surge in tourism. For the first time, it is bringing the travel show to Robinsons Place Naga from December 4 to 5, 2021 and will highlight the many diverse and beautiful islands and destinations of Bicol.
Florence Rivera, NAITAS national president, shared, “The NAITAS Travel Show (NTS) 2021 responds to the call of the times, and aims to bring local tourism to the rest of the country and the world through another pioneering hybrid event, collaborating with one of the most famous Philippine destinations — the Bicol Region.”
Rivera said the event will showcase the best of both worlds, physical and virtual, as it will be held inside a mall with booths for local exhibitors, while simultaneously having an online virtual expo for local and international business-to-business (B2B) sellers and buyers.
The theme of this year’s travel expo is “Recovery, Resiliency and Transformation,” focusing on Sustainable Tourism in the countryside.
Racquel Sabucido, NAITAS vice president internal and chair of the NTS 2021, is inviting all interested exhibitors and sellers to join the travel expo.
“We are expecting around 600 to 800 travel and tour agents to participate in the virtual B2B meetings; so, this is the perfect time for exhibitors to showcase their services and destinations as well as meet agents for collaboration,” Sabucido added, noting that all local and international sellers are welcome to participate.
The NTS is co-presented by the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, Bicol Regional Tourism Council, Bicol Association of Travel and Tour Operators, and NAITAS Bicol Chapter.
The event is also supported by the City of Naga and the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce, Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, Naga Colleges Foundation, WRI Colleges, GNN TV 48, Converge, PLDT, CamSur Watersports Complex, Tugawe Island Cove Resort, Embassy of Sri Lanka, and Philippine Airlines.
Philippine travel agents may also register for free as a buyer for the B2B meeting through this link: https://form.jotform.com/213061320998455.
For any inquiries about the NTS 2021, please email NTS2021Secretariat@gmail.com or call +63 919 616 4576.
