PHILTOA

10/10/2026

PHILTOA IN ACTION: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MICE TOURISM

PHILTOA 1st Vice President Mary Ann Ong participated in the Validation Workshop on Revitalizing MICE Tourism in the Philippines: Policy Framework for Market Expansion, Digital Adoption, and Inclusive Development.

The workshop brings together industry stakeholders to validate strategic policies that will strengthen the Philippines’ competitiveness as a premier global MICE destination.

Why this matters to our members: PHILTOA’s participation ensures that our industry remains engaged in important policy discussions that can open doors to new business opportunities, stronger partnerships, and sustainable growth.

As the go-to association for government and private-sector consultation, collaboration, and partnership, PHILTOA continues to bring the industry to the table; where decisions are shaped and opportunities begin.

Our presence today. Greater opportunities for our members tomorrow.

PHILTOA — Bound by Tourism, Driven by Unity.

09/10/2026

Representing the Philippine Travel Industry at the World Bank Group–DOT Stakeholder Validation Meeting

Exclusively attended by PHILTOA, PTAA, and PHOA, represented by Harold Atondo (PHILTOA), Mariegel Manotok (PTAA), and Minoll Alano (PHOA).

The meeting focused on the Business Environment Study of the Tourism Sector (BEST), addressing regulatory challenges, licensing processes, inter-agency coordination, and opportunities for digitalization and reform.

Through stronger collaboration among government, development partners, and industry associations, we can drive meaningful reforms and build a more efficient, business-friendly environment for Philippine tourism.

02/10/2026

THREE EXPERTISES. ONE VISION. A NEW NICHE FOR PHILIPPIN TOURISM.

The road to a NEW ERA of Philippine Motorcycle Tourism is about to take-off with a BANG!

The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), together with the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB), represented by Mr. Ceasar Villanueva, and Breakfast Ride Community (BRC), represented by its Founder Raymon Gabriel, held an Inception Meeting to explore a proposed Triad MOU and collaborative Motorism Program.

The Triad will bring together the complementary strengths of three partners:

TPB — expertise in tourism marketing, promotion, destination development, and market positioning

PHILTOA — the knowledge and experience of tour operators in developing, packaging, selling, and making tourism experiences marketable and bookable; and

(BRC) Motorism Enthusiasts — the community, passion, networks, and on-the-ground capability to ride, explore, experience, document, and assess emerging destinations across the country.

The proposed Motorism Program will harness these combined capabilities to go beyond simply creating motorcycle routes. It seeks to discover emerging destinations, assess their tourism potential, identify the experiences that can appeal to the motorism market, and determine how these can be developed and positioned as viable niche tourism products.

From the riders’ perspective to the tour operator’s lens, and from destination development to tourism marketing and promotion, the program can help answer:

Can this destination be reached by motorcycle?

Can it be experienced meaningfully?

What makes the journey and destination unique?

What tourism products can be developed?

And most importantly, can it be marketed and sold as a Motorism experience?

This is where exploration meets expertise, passion meets tourism, and the road meets the market.

As PHILTOA continues to strengthen its role as the GO-TO ASSOCIATION for tourism collaboration, partnership, and consultation, we look forward to helping build a framework that can position Motorism as an emerging niche tourism market and open new opportunities for destinations, communities, and tourism enterprises across the Philippines.

Discover the roads.
Explore the destinations.
Assess the potential.
Develop the product.
Take Motorism to the market.

PHILTOA — Bound by Tourism, Driven by Unity.


This framing makes the MOU the institutional “Triad,” while Motorism is the program and niche-market opportunity that the three partners will jointly explore and develop.

02/10/2026

HONORING THE LEGACY THAT BUILT PHILTOA

Bound by Tourism, Driven by Unity.

Some legacies are written in documents.
Others live in the stories of the people who built them.

As PHILTOA celebrates its 40th Anniversary, we take this special milestone as an opportunity to honor the pioneers and past leaders whose vision, dedication, and passion helped build the association we proudly carry today.

At 88 years young, former PHILTOA President and one of the founding officers of the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Dading Clemente, continues to inspire us with her passion, enthusiasm, and remarkable memories of the early days of our association.

The PHILTOA leadership had the privilege of visiting Dading personally at the office of Rajah Travel Corporation, one of our valued PHILTOA member companies.

With enthusiasm and warmth, she shared the backstory of PHILTOA; how the association came together, the vision that brought its pioneers together, and the journey that shaped PHILTOA into the organization it is today.

She also shared an important chapter in the history of the Philippine Travel Mart (PTM); how this flagship tourism event traces its roots to the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), now the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and how the program was eventually passed on to PHILTOA, where it grew and evolved through the years.

These stories remind us that PTM is more than an annual event. It is a legacy.

And PHILTOA is more than an association. It is a continuing story built by generations of tourism leaders.

As PHILTOA marks 40 years of service, leadership, and commitment to Philippine tourism, we honor those who came before us not only by remembering their contributions, but by carrying their vision forward, strengthening what they built, and inspiring the next generation to take the journey further.

As a gesture of our deepest appreciation, the PHILTOA leadership personally presented Dading with a Plaque of Appreciation, honoring her invaluable contribution as a founding officer, former President, and one of the pioneers who helped lay the foundation of PHILTOA.
The plaque was presented by:
Maria Lourdes “Malou” Japson
President, PHILTOA
together with the PHILTOA leadership:
Mary Ann Ong — 1st Vice President
Nihma Karay — Secretary General
Erlinda Tan — Treasurer
Cecille Kimpo — Public Relations Officer

This was more than a simple visit.
It was a bridge between generations.
A moment to listen.
A moment to remember.
A moment to say thank you.
Because as PHILTOA moves forward, we will never forget where we came from—or the people who helped build the path we walk today.

We remember. We honor. We continue.

To Dading Clemente and all our pioneering leaders:
Your legacy lives on in PHILTOA.
And as we carry the torch forward, PHILTOA continues to strengthen its role as the GO-TO ASSOCIATION FOR TOURISM for collaboration, partnership, consultation, and industry leadership.

PHILTOA @ 40

Bound by Tourism, Driven by Unity.

01/10/2026

TUKLAS PILIPINAS: DISCOVERING THE POWER OF DATA TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TOURISM

PHILTOA proudly joins the Department of Tourism - Philippines (DOT) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in the 37th National Statistics Month (NSM) Opening Ceremony, carrying the powerful theme: “TUKLAS PILIPINAS: Statistics as Beacon Towards Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Tourism.”

This year’s celebration goes beyond numbers. It brings together data, insights, global perspectives, and powerful storytelling to better understand where Philippine tourism is today and where it can go tomorrow.

GLOBAL TOURISM OUTLOOK: RISKS, RECOVERY AND OPPORTUNITIES

A key highlight of the program is the Global Tourism Outlook, featuring global speakers who will share perspectives on the evolving international tourism landscape, emerging risks, recovery trends, and opportunities that can shape destinations and the tourism industry.

NSM MEDIA AWARDS: TELLING THE STORY BEHIND THE NUMBERS

Another meaningful highlight is the NSM Media Awards, recognizing the important role of the media in transforming statistics and data into stories that inform, educate, and create greater public understanding. Beyond reporting numbers, good data journalism gives meaning to the numbers; revealing trends, highlighting tourism developments, bringing issues to public attention, and helping stakeholders and communities better understand the forces shaping Philippine tourism.

For PHILTOA, this is particularly significant. Tourism statistics tell us what is happening; stories help us understand why it matters.

DATA + INSIGHT + STORYTELLING = BETTER TOURISM DECISIONS

As the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), we believe that the future of Philippine tourism must be data-informed, market-driven, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.

From data to insight. From insight to strategy. From strategy to action.

PHILTOA continues to be a go-to association for collaboration, partnership, and consultation, connecting government and the private sector and helping translate tourism intelligence into marketable, bookable, and sustainable experiences.

Let us TUKLAS PILIPINAS; discover through data, learn from the world, amplify meaningful stories, and turn insights into action for Philippine tourism.
PHILTOA: BOUND BY TOURISM, DRIVEN BY TOURISM.

01/10/2026

CLOSING THE GAPS. SPARKING REGION 1 TOURISM.

From GAPS to SPAR to KICKSTART!

PHILTOA President Maria Lourdes “Malou” Japson joined tourism leaders as a Resource Person and Panelist at the Region 1 Tourism Summit, sharing strategies to turn tourism assets into marketable, sellable, and bookable experiences.

Her message was clear:
Strategy. Product. Access. Revenue. Results. Then KICKSTART!

As the go-to association for collaboration, partnership, and consultation, PHILTOA continues to bring the voice and expertise of tour operators to the table; connecting government, industry, destinations, and the market to move Philippine tourism forward.

Let’s close the GAPS. Let’s SPAR. Let’s KICKSTART!

30/09/2026

TURNING TOURISM POTENTIAL INTO INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASEAN

PHILTOA at the ASEAN Tourism Investment Showcase 2026

Tourism is more than destinations and experiences; it is an investment in communities, connectivity, and sustainable growth.

PHILTOA, represented by 1st Vice President Mary Ann Ong, joined the ASEAN Tourism Investment Showcase (ATIS) convened by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 29 September 2026 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

PHILTOA is proud to share that Yizhen Fung, Head of Strategic Partnerships, AirAsia MOVE, a valued PHILTOA member, was among the distinguished resource persons, contributing industry insights to discussions on tourism investment and development.

The showcase brought together ASEAN Member States, investors, development partners, financing institutions and tourism stakeholders to explore investment-ready opportunities and sustainable, resilient and inclusive tourism development.

As the go-to association for tourism collaboration, partnership and consultation, PHILTOA continues to connect its members with government and regional stakeholders—creating platforms where expertise, partnerships and investment opportunities come together.

CONNECT. COLLABORATE. CONSULT. CREATE.
PHILTOA — Bound by Tourism, Driven by Unity.

30/09/2026

LAGUNA TRAVEL MART 2026: CONNECTING MARKETS, CREATING EXPERIENCES

When government and the private sector come together, tourism moves forward.

At the Laguna Travel Mart 2026 organized by local association Alliance of Laguna Travel and Tour Agencies-ALTTA, PHILTOA President Maria Lourdes “Malou” Japson delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the power of partnerships to transform Laguna’s tourism assets into market-ready, sellable, and memorable experiences.

As the go-to association for tourism collaboration, partnership and consultation, PHILTOA continues to connect destinations, tourism enterprises, government and the travel trade; creating opportunities and driving tourism business.

Connect. Collaborate. Consult. Create.

PHILTOA — Bound by Tourism, Driven by Unity.

30/09/2026

Mabuhay PHILTOA Family!

After the wonderful success of PHILTOA's 37th Philippine Travel Mart , it’s time to pause, celebrate, and simply enjoy being together!

We warmly invite you to the PHILTOA 5th General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Enchanting Events Place, Enchanted Kingdom.

This time, let’s step away from the usual meetings and business discussions and spend a day filled with fun, laughter, friendship, and unforgettable moments with our fellow PHILTOA members.

Come ready to play, connect, celebrate, and make enchanting memories together! ✨

📅 October 14, 2026 | Wednesday
📍 Enchanting Events Place, Enchanted Kingdom
⏰ Arrival: 8:30 AM

🚌 PHILTOA Bus Departures:
6:30 AM – Quezon City
7:00 AM – Alabang

We’ve prepared an exciting day for everyone, so bring your energy, team spirit, and your biggest smiles!

See you at Enchanted Kingdom!

28/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DnjXSxuFJ/

𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗡 | Day 2 na ng 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐓𝐎𝐀 𝐱 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬 episodes, pero tuloy ang celebration ng galing at creativity ng ating mga tourism destinations sa 37th Philippine Travel Mart! 🇵🇭✈️

Ngayong Martes, makikilala natin ang ilan sa mga award-winning exhibitors na nagpakita ng kanilang best at nagdala ng kulay, kultura, at kuwento ng kanilang mga lugar:

🏆 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐳 — 1st Runner-Up, Best Booth (Regional/Provincial Category)
🏆 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐨 — Best Booth, Cities/Municipalities Category
🏆 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫 — Champion, Best Booth (Province Category); Champion, Best Cultural Presentation; at People’s Choice Award

Samahan kami sa kuwentuhan tungkol sa kanilang PTM experience, inspiration behind their winning booths, at kung paano nila ipinapakilala ang kanilang destinations sa mas maraming travelers. Kita-kits bukas, 10:00 AM, dito lang sa ! 😉