By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Provincial tourism officials are offering low-cost tour packages in this northern gateway of Luzon at the 29th Philippine Travel Mart, the longest running travel trade show in the country.
Held at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City from August 31 to September 4, the PTM provides an avenue for various tourism stakeholders to promote their respective travel destinations.
For this year, Aianree Raquel, Ilocos Norte supervising tourism operations officer said, “We’re selling ‘IlowCost’ packages and pushing promos that have added value.”
Mr. Raquel explained this is the province’s way to counter the impact of inflation by encouraging everyone to visit Ilocos Norte on a budget.
For as low as PHP499 per person, one can visit various attractions in the province from September 1-December 15, 2018 should they avail of this promo and make reservation with budget hotels or authorized travel agencies.
While promoting the province as a wedding destination, Mr. Raquel said they have a current experiment, offering an Ilocos wedding package worth PHP15,000 only.
“Let’s see if someone gets interested,” said Mr. Raquel as the wedding package is inclusive of a civil wedding fee at the mayor’s office, round trip fare to Ilocos Norte, hair and make-up, bridal bouquet, groom’s boutonniere, photographer, lunch for five, two-night accommodation and a wedding venue.
As the biggest tourism fair in the country, the provincial government is now a regular participant to PTM since 2009.