Region 12 highlighted in the Phil. Travel Mart
TOURISM • 04:06 AM Tue Sep 15, 2015
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DOT-12
SOCCSKSARGEN Pavilion at PTM in SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. (DOT-12)
KORONADAL CITY -The SOCCSKSARGEN Pavilion bagged the Best
Booth Award and raked as much as P4.3 millioninbound sales for tourism establishments
in the recently concluded Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) at the SMX Convention
Center, Pasay City.
The Pavilion named SOX featured the different
tourism sites, cultural dances, playing of traditional music and local food tasting
as well as teaching basic dance steps and wearing traditional costumes of the
IPs in Region 12.
Prior
to the PTM, 14 accredited tour operators, tourism officers and tour guides of
the region conducted Sales Calls in UP, UST, FEU, CEU, BPO Companies and
foreign based Tour operators to promote and book inbound tours for students and
employees of the said companies.
The tour operators together with the LGU
tourism officers also supported each other during the actual travel fair in the
PTM. This resulted in actual booking some with purchased plane tickets and
potential arrivals in the coming months.
Nelly Dillera,DOT 12 regional director, washappy to note
this development as the result will soon be translated to actual income for
tourism stakeholders like drivers, accommodation operators, food services,
transportation owners, tour guides, souvenir item producers and site operators.
She said participation and achievements
in the PTM have to a certain extent improved the image of the region. This was
expressed by Tourism Promotion Board (TPB) CEO Renerio Enerio who claimed SOX as Spectacular, Outstanding and Extraordinary.
Philippine Tourism Authority (PHILTOA) Chair Cesar Cruz, meanwhile, said a
number of PHILTOA members have been expressing interest to develop ground
handling relationships with the local tour operators as they intend to bring
their regular tourists to new, fresh and exciting destinations like
SOCCSKSARGEN.
The SOX pavilion, a unique structure that was
an art in itself was designed by a fellow Region 12 resident, Leeroy New, who is
now making waves not only in the Philippines but even abroad.SOCCSKSARGEN region is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and the cities ofTacurong, Koronadal, Cotabato, Kidapawan and Gen. Santos.