TOURISM Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines held the 18th Regional Travel Fair (RTF) at the Alnor Hotel and Convention Center in Cotabato City from Aug. 14 to 16 to highlight Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a new and thriving tourism destination in the country.
This year’s RTF comes to BARMM as the region is geared for tourism, investments, and prosperity, as well as supporting the ongoing Bangsamoro Tourism Development Plan (BTDP) 2025-2033.
Exhibitors from the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional offices, municipalities, artisans, hotels, and resorts around the Philippines joined the three-day event.
“Today, we bring together tourism enterprises from BARMM and across the country with key buyers who help transform tourism products into actual unforgettable travel experiences,” TPB Philippines manager of the domestic promotions department Arnold Gonzales said during the launch.
BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua hopes that the fair may become a gateway for new partnerships, investments, markets, livelihood, and opportunities for the communities.
He also said the event will allow more Filipinos and international visitors to come and visit what BARMM has to offer.
On the first day, business-to-business (B2B) sessions were conducted through invitations and participated in by 42 buyers and 76 sellers.
The second day opened business-to-consumer activities offering discounts on tourism packages and exclusive flight deals to the public.
The 18th RTF is in partnership with the Minister of Trade, Investments and Tourism – BARMM, Cotabato City Tourism Council, City Government of Cotabato, and Philippine Airlines.
RTFs are a government-initiated travel fair to conduct events in different regions in the Philippines with a goal to promote and sell domestic tour packages by highlighting the best regional products and services.
