BAGUIO CITY — For many Cordillera entrepreneurs, artisans, and tourism workers, the 17th Regional Travel Fair served as more than just a tourism showcase. It was an opportunity to bring local products, indigenous craftsmanship, and community-based enterprises to wider national markets.
The three-day event at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center gathered buyers, exhibitors, tourism stakeholders, and government agencies from across the Philippines. Organizers positioned the fair as a platform for regional partnerships, domestic travel, and local economic growth.
Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the fair brought together 77 sellers, 56 buyers, tourism enterprises, local government units, and regional tourism officials nationwide.
The event opened on Friday, May 15, with a Business-to-Business (B2B) session aimed at connecting tourism stakeholders and expanding market opportunities through networking and business matching.
During Thursday’s B2B orientation, TPB Domestic Promotions Department Acting Head Arnold T. Gonzales presented the agency’s “Empowering Industries Through Strategic B2B Linkage” framework, emphasizing how partnerships between businesses, government agencies, and communities can expand market access, improve competitiveness, and create sustainable economic opportunities.
