PHITEX 2026 Event Overview
The Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2026, the Philippines’ premier government‑organized travel trade exhibition, wrapped up on 9 September 2026 at the Conrad Manila hotel in Pasay City. The event recorded PHP 594,712,138.50 in sales leads, a figure that remains partial but represents a 20.12 percent rise over the PHP 495,090,000 recorded in the 2025 edition.
Participation Details
PHITEX 2026 attracted 102 Philippine sellers—comprising destination management companies, tour operators, and travel agencies—and 76 foreign buyers representing 24 countries. The foreign delegation included buyers from eleven emerging‑market nations (Denmark, France, Indonesia, Italy, Macao SAR, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam) and from thirteen of TPB’s key markets (Australia, Canada, Mainland China, Germany, United Kingdom, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States of America).
Official Statements
TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles expressed optimism, stating, “We are delighted with the PHP 506.15 million in sales leads generated through PHITEX 2026.” She emphasized that, despite a challenging global environment, the event underscores the importance of strengthening industry partnerships and responding to evolving traveler needs, with the expectation that the connections forged will translate into increased visitor arrivals and sustainable opportunities for local tourism stakeholders.
Post‑Event Familiarisation Tours
Foreign buyers participated in post‑event familiarisation tours that showcased the Philippines’ heritage sites in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, natural attractions in Palawan, culinary and cultural offerings in Cebu and Bohol, and nature‑based experiences in Davao. One buyer, Jenny Rose Ryall, director of Global Guides Australia, remarked, “We just don’t promote the product or the destination, but the experience… we tell them stories, our personal stories, our personal experiences, and with that, it’s a lot more convincing because they can see the emotion, and the excitement.”
Sponsorship and Community Partnerships
The exhibition was supported by silver sponsors Cebu Pacific, Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc., and Philippine Airlines; bronze sponsors Duty Free Philippines, Kaulayaw, The Travel Club, and 2GO Travel; and community partners Mactan Cebu International Airport and Palaweño Brewery.
About TPB
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines is an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, tasked with marketing the country domestically and internationally as a world‑class tourism and MICE destination through strategic public‑private partnerships, travel trade shows, and business meetings.