TBEX 2017: Clark as “Asia’s Newest Darling of Tourism”

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE – This bustling Freeport in Central Luzon has been dubbed “Asia’s Newest Darling of Tourism” in the annual Travel Business Exchange Pilipinas (TBEX) held here recently at Midori Hotel & Casino Hotel.

Some 300 companies and players in the field of travel and tourism attended the event organized by the Afro Asian World Events in behalf of the Network of Independent Travel and Allied Services Philippines, Inc. [NITAS], that served as a venue for seminars focusing on the latest best practices and how businesses can take advantage of the digital world, and face-to-face meetings and goal-setting among players.

According to Angel Ramos-Bognot, project director of TBEX 2017, they have chosen Clark as the perfect venue due to its strategic location, being accessible via the Clark International Airport, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway [SCTEX], North Luzon Expressway [NLEX], and soon in the future, via an advanced railway system connecting to Manila.

Noting Clark’s status as a “clean and green city” with world-class hotels and delectable cuisine, Ramos-Bognot said her vision is to make Clark a major tourist destination through an improved system in the industry and a more effective marketing campaign.

The goal, she said, is not far-fetched as tourism arrivals have increased to as much as 56% for the past two years and a lot of new infrastructure and establishments have already been developed.

Starting in 2006 as a travel Market Exchange or TRAMEX, the annual event has become a platform for business-to-business [B2B] appointments which promote and increase tourism activities both within and outside the Philippines. Participants include travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, airlines, transport services, resorts, and other tourist attractions and destinations. Three years ago, the organizers re-labeled into Travel Business Exchange or TBEX. (Iya Oliva)