The Philippine booth at the PATA Travel Mart PHOTO BY RICK ALBERTO
MANILA, Philippines—The recently concluded Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart held at the SMX convention center inManila was reportedly snubbed by Chinese travel agents. The TTG travel paper reported that although the China National Tourist Office in Singapore for Asean Countries was represented at the Mart, the China National Tourism Administration and Macau Government Tourist Office withdrew their participation. As if on cue, many Chinese sellers equally withdrew. TTG reported that only two sellers from China and four from Macau participated, down from 60 China and 25 Macau sellers in the previous Mart.
Even next year’s host, Chengdu, was conspicuously absent.
Apparently, this was an offshoot of the spat between the Philippines and China over the disputed Spratly islands.
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The PATA Travel Mart, which was held Sept. 25-28, attracted around 925 attendees. When Manila hosted the first Travel Mart in 1978, just over 300 attended. PATA CEO Martin Craigs said 454 seller delegates representing 233 organizations (93 of them first-time participants) booked almost 3,000 square meters of floor space. In total, some 29 seller destinations (countries and territories) were represented.
PATA also reported that the Mart attracted 304 buyer delegates (94 of them first-timers) from 287 organizations across 52 countries and territories.
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PATA reports that as of September this year, Southeast Asia registered the highest percentage increase in international visitor arrivals at 8.5 percent, or more than 3 million additional arrivals, followed by South Asia at 8.5 percent, Pacific at 7.2 percent, and Northeast Asia and the Americas each at 4.8 percent.
The littered Baclaran night market PHOTO BY RICK ALBERTO
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Laos, an emerging tourist destination, will host the next Asean Tourism Forum on Jan. 17-24 next year in Vientiane, the capital city. The event will be held side by side with the ATF 2013 Travex for exhibitors and buyers. Over 500 exhibitors are expected. Log on at www.atflaos.com.
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The Philippines doesn’t have a decent night market the likes of Thailand’s famous night markets, particularly in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, that draw international tourists. Baclaran could be one, but the place is dirty and full of rubbish scattered right in the middle of the road, that is, the Redemptorist Road where the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is located. The sellers just display their wares anywhere without order. It’s a reflection of Metro Manila’s chaotic character. Officials don’t bother to put order and even ensure cleanliness. A sprinkling of tourists is sometimes seen in the area but surely they must be turned off by the scene.
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Dirty surroundings are actually the bane of tourist destinations in the Philippines, particularly Manila. Ask any visitor about their honest comment about Manila and almost always, their answer is: “It’s dirty.” Even a local visitor from the province is appalled when he sees how dirty Manila is. Officials travel to other Asian countries and yet they seem unmindful of the difference. Bangkok residents used to litter their streets but somehow authorities managed to educate them. Now, even during massive street celebrations the streets remain immaculately clean. And the city government has put decent trash bins on the streets, which are absent on Manila streets.