The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Story and photo by Jill R. Beltran
Philippines News Agency
Millennials—those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s—will be the focus of the 27th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM), to be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City from Sept. 2 to 4, event organizer Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa) announced last week.
During a press briefing on Aug. 24, Philtoa President and PTM Chairman Cesar Cruz said his organization sees millennials as the “upcoming market” the Philippine tourism industry should pay attention to.
“This is the first time [that] we are really highlighting the millennial market, although last year we started [doing that] already,” Cruz said. “This time, we are actually offering packages for the millennial market.”
“The destinations for the millennial market are the less-traveled destinations. The millennial market is not [into] luxury accommodations. What they [millennials] want is really the experience: what to do, what to see, [and what they can get] in that particular destination,” he added.
Cruz described millennials as “adventurous” who “include traveling as part of their lifestyle.”
According to him, the PTM will offer what it called the “travel bucket list” packages, which cost as low as P1,500 and showcase less-traveled destinations, such as the Gigantes Islands in Carles town, Iloilo province; Camiguin and Marinduque provinces; Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte province; Catanduanes province; and Sibuyan Island, Romblon province.
“What we are trying to do here is to put these destinations on the mainstream tourism [map],” Cruz said. He added that safety standards would be improved in these areas to ensure the safety of all travelers, despite their traveling on a budget.
Budget travelers can also opt for packages in leading tourist destinations in the country, which range from P5,000 to P6,000.
The PTM is also offering another set of packages showcasing various destinations in several regions, such as the Cordillera Autonomous Region, Southern Tagalog (Region 4A), and Bicol. These packages start at P8,200 per person.
For those who want to travel abroad, twin packages will again be offered, in which the Philippines will be partnering with Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)+3 destinations, such as Japan, South Korea, and China.
Cruz said at least 264 travel exhibitors will be participating in this year’s PTM.
He also said Philtoa is expecting to generate sales that are up to 20 percent more than last year’s sales of P120.3 million.
It also expects a 15-percent increase in foot traffic, from 58,000 visitors last year to 70,000 this year.
Philtoa is the country’s largest organization of registered tourism operators with allied members in various tourism sectors, such as travel agencies, hotel, resorts, transportation companies, handicraft stores, and other tourism-oriented establishments.
This year’s PTM is co-presented by the Tourism Promotions Board.