The Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) is the biggest government-organized travel trade event in the country.

Established in 1996, the event hosts qualified international buyers to participate in tabletop business appointments with Philippine sellers and experience first-hand the beauty of the Philippines and warmth of its people through pre-/post-event tours with an end-goal of expanding networks, creating partnerships and increasing tourist arrivals in the country.

PHITEX has become a major annual marketing event that further strengthens the country’s brand image and encourages participants to promote affordable and competitive tourism packages.

This year, coming out of the pandemic, the first purely physical PHITEX will be held in Cebu, after its first hosting 16 years ago. Scheduled on 19-26 September 2023 in Cebu targeting 100 buyers and 100 seller companies.  The event will have a two-day face-to-face Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), PHITEX Educational Program (PEP) Talk and Pre and Post- event tours for Buyers.

PHITEX 2023 will be held on 19-26 September 2023 in Cebu.

• 19 September 2023: Pre-Event Tour for Buyers and PHITEX Educational Program (PEP) Talk for Sellers
• 20-21 September 2023: Travel Exchange (TRAVEX)
• 22-26 September 2023: Post-Event Tours for Buyers

PHITEX 2023 is open to DOT-accredited suppliers of Philippine tourism products and services and TPB members from the following sectors:

• Travel agencies/tour operators
• Accommodations
• MICE operators
• Health and wellness
• Adventure sports providers
• Travel trade associations
• Tourist Transportation
• Others (i.e theme parks, attractions, museums)

PHITEX 2023 is open to the following sectors:

• Travel agencies/tour operators
• Tour wholesalers
• MICE operators

• FOR SELLERS:
  1. Duly accomplished online registration form found in this link: (https://www.phitex.ph/registration/seller/)
  2. Valid copy of DOT Accreditation Certificate. Those undergoing renewal may submit DOT’s acknowledgment on their application.
  3. TPB member’s certificate
  4. Vaccination Card
• FOR BUYERS:
  1. Duly accomplished online registration form found in this link: (https://www.phitex.ph/registration/buyer/)

1. For this year’s PHITEX, each seller company can register up to two (2) delegates. Each seller delegate will have his/her business appointment schedule.

Below are the Participation Fees for Sellers:

STATUS	PARTICIPATION FEE
Principal Delegate	Php 10,000.00
Co-Delegate	Php   5,000.00

 

The deadline for registration is on 14 July 2023.

 

The deadline for the payment of the participation fee is five (5) days upon receipt of confirmation for participation or not later than 31 July 2023.

The delegates are expected to come in business attire for the PHITEX appointment sessions.

• For Sellers, kindly inform the Sellers Committee via email: [email protected], on or before 11 August 2023.
• For Buyers, kindly inform the Buyers Committee via email: [email protected], on or before 11 August 2023.

  Cancellation Policy: 

  • TPB reserves the right to withhold 50% of the Participation Fee if cancellation is made on or before 11 August 2023.
  • Cancellation made beyond 11 August 2023 gives TPB the right to withhold 100% payment of the participation fee and will be considered as no show which will affect future participation in TPB events.

Kindly click here: Guidelines on Airfare Reimbursement

No. Sellers are not entitled to any reimbursement of travel expenses.

a. Seller delegate kit which includes:
1. Access badge for the event per seller delegate;
2. Digital Directory of International Buyers and Philippine Sellers; and
3. Business Appointment Schedule.

b. Attendance to official functions (PEP Talk, Welcome Dinner and Networking Cocktails)

c. Other marketing efforts that will provide the private sector participants optimal advantage and benefit.

d. Preferential rates extended by Cebu-based accommodation partners.

Note: Travel Expenses (such as but not limited to airfare, land transfers and accommodation) are not included in the participation fees. These shall be on pax accounts.

a. Provision for international economy air ticket and domestic air ticket (Clark-Cebu-Clark or Manila-Cebu-Manila) reimbursement once participation has been confirmed by the PHITEX 2023 Buyer’s Screening Committee. Kindly refer to the __ for the Guidelines on Air Ticket Reimbursement;

b. Provision of hotel accommodation during the event. The accommodation set-up are as follows:
1. 16-18 September 2023: Hosted accommodation in Manila (transit flights from international to Cebu)
2. 18-22 September 2023: Hosted accommodation in Cebu
3. 26-28 September 2023: Hosted accommodation in Manila/Cebu after Post Tours;
Note: Those whose arrival/departure fall outside of these dates may be accommodated, subject to availability.
c. Provision of meals from 19 to 21 September 2023, or until 26 September 2023 if joing the post-event tours;
1. Full Board meals will only be provided during the event proper on 19 September (Pre-Event Tour), 20-21 September (TRAVEX, Welcome Dinner and Networking Cocktails), and 22-26 September 2023 (Post-Event Tours);
2. Meals before the pre-event tour and after post-event tours, breakfast will only be provided along with the hosted accommodation;
d. Provision of Buyer’s delegate kit which includes:
1. Access badge for the event;
2. Directory of Philippine Sellers; and
3. Business Appointment Schedule
f. Provision of interpreters for the B2B meetings from 09:30H to 18:00H and from 09:00H to 17:00H on 20 and 21 September 2023, respectively (Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese);
g. Invitation to official functions (Welcome Dinner and Networking Cocktails); and
h. Invitation to join the Pre-Event tour on 19 September 2023 and Post-Event Tours from 22-26 September 2023

The scheduled physical B2B meetings will be done from 09:30H to 18:00H and from 09:00H to 17:00H on 20 and 21 September 2023, respectively.

Each seller will have a maximum of 44 official appointments for the two-day business sessions, 20 pre-arranged meetings per day and additional four (4) appointments for scheduling on the second day.

Each B2B meeting runs a total of fifteen (15) minutes. Participants will be notified three (3) minutes before the end of each meeting to wrap up the discussion and move to the next appointment.

The Speed Networking will be set at seven (7) minutes each. Participants will be notified two (2) minutes before the end of the meeting to wrap up the discussion and proceed to the next meeting.

In case of NO SHOW, the Buyer/Sellers may meet with an available Seller/Buyer. 

Sellers are highly encouraged to bring their own promotional materials for the B2B sessions preferably sustainable and light materials such as digital brochures, maps, and programs. Buyers will be provided with tables, while Sellers will roam around for their appointments. Bringing of pull-up banners is prohibited.

Yes, sellers are entitled to attend the PEPTalk scheduled on 19 September 2023. The seminar is free of charge.

• Invited Academe
• Invited Local Government Units (LGUs)
• Invited Stakeholders

Note: Participation in the PEPTalk is exclusive of accommodation and travel expenses.

No, only hosted buyers are qualified to participate in the said tours.

The pre-event tour is scheduled on 19 September 2023, while the post-event tour will be on 22 – 26 September 2023. Details on the tours will be disseminated to the approved buyer delegates’ registrants via email.

 

	DATE	DESTINATIONS/THEMES
Pre- Event Tour	19 September 2023	Suroy-suroy / City Tour with property inspections
Post-Event Tours	22-26 September 2023	●        Nature and Adventure ●        Dine and Drive ●        Triple C’s (Calm, Culture and Culinary) ●        Wellness & Fun Dive ●        Culinary, Culture and Heritage ●        Triple F (Faith, Farm and Fun)

Note: Indicative only. Detailed itinerary will be sent through a series of bulletins.

 

Pre-departure testing for fully-vaccinated foreign nationals is no longer required. Those who are unvaccinated and partially vaccinated must present a negative antigen test result taken within 24 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. Failure to do so will require the undergoing of a laboratory-based antigen test. Those who will test positive for COVID-19 shall be subjected to the latest prevailing quarantine and isolation procedures of the Department of Health.

Also, all participants are required to register via the eTravel portal, which replaced the One Health Pass. Registration can be done within three (3) days or 72 hours prior to the arrival in the Philippines. The e-Travel form may be accessed at https://etravel.gov.ph/.

QUARANTINE
Asymptomatic close contact*	At least with primary series (initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine)	0 days
	Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated	At least 14 days from exposure
ISOLATION
Asymptomatic and mild disease	At least with primary series (initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine)	7 days from the positive test or from onset of signs and symptoms, whichever is earlier + afebrile**
	Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated	10 days from the positive test or from onset of signs and symptoms, whichever is earlier + afebrile**
Moderate disease	Regardless of vaccination status	10 days from onset of signs and symptoms + afebrile**
Severe disease and immunocompromised***	Regardless of vaccination status	21 days from onset of signs and symptoms + afebrile**

 

*All asymptomatic close contacts should continue symptom monitoring for 14 days, strictly observe MPHS which includes wearing well-fitted masks, physical distancing, among others

 

**Isolation can be discontinued upon completion of the required days, provided that, they shall not develop fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications and shall have improvement of respiratory symptoms. Except for immunocompromised individuals, repeat testing nor medical certification shall not be required for safe reintegration into the community. Time based isolation is sufficient provided the affected individual remains asymptomatic.

 

***Includes (1) individuals receiving active chemotherapy for cancer; (2) being within one year out from receiving a hematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplant; (3) Untreated HIV infection with CD4 <200; (4) Primary Immunodeficiency; (5) Taking immunosuppressive medications (e.g., drugs to suppress rejection of transplanted organs or to treat rheumatologic conditions such as mycophenolate and rituximab); (6) Taking more than 20mg a day of prednisone for more than 14 days; (7) The degree of immunocompromise is determined by the health care provider, and preventive actions are adapted to each individual and situation. Repeat RT-PCR testing is recommended upon completion of the recommended isolation period. If result is negative, they may be discharged from isolation. If positive, they will be referred to an Infectious Disease Specialist who may issue clearance and discharge if warranted.