Mark Your Calendars: The Philippine Travel Mart Is Happening This Weekend

(SPOT.ph) Are you long overdue for an adventure? If your answer is yes, you're in luck. The country’s longest-running travel fair is back this month, and it's ready to make those dream trips happen—without breaking the bank.

Yes, dear intrepid travelers, it’s time to mark your calendars for this year’s Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) happening on September 4 to 6 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. If you’re eager to tick off another dream destination on your travel bucket list, here’s everything you need to know to make the most out of the upcoming travel expo.

ICYDK, the three-day Philippine Travel Mart is one of the country’s most anticipated events dedicated to everything travel. Think of PTM as a one-stop shop where both the biggest names and rising stars of Philippine tourism and hospitality will offer exclusive promo rates on flights, accommodations, travel packages, and activities.

While there will be international travel deals, a big slice of the travel expo is dedicated to domestic travel. This year, 300+ exhibitors from the country’s 15 regions will be present to offer not only attractive travel deals but also locally crafted experiences and products by regional small businesses. So, best to ready your wallets and prepare for days of booth-hopping to score the best deals for your next local adventures.

Now you might be thinking, why bother going to the PTM when you can snag sales and promos online? What’s worth going all the way to SMX?

This year’s run of the PTM continues to serve the bigger purpose of promoting local, sustainable tourism across the Philippines. In fact, the theme “Nurturing the Next Gen Tourism” reinforces the previous years’ goals of strengthening the partnerships, building industry capacity, and expanding opportunities to make Philippine tourism competitive, inclusive, and future-ready.

Guided by these principles, the PTM partnered with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board to bring a diverse range of regional experiences within the SMX Convention Center.

As Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) President Maria Lourdes Flor Japson notes, “Every booth represents a community, every booking supports livelihoods, and every destination promoted contributes to a stronger local economy.”

So, expect SMX to be buzzing with food, handicrafts, and experiences as a preview of what awaits in destinations from all over Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Imagine getting a taste of local delicacies and browsing through handmade textiles and handicrafts, so you know what to look for when you finally embark on your trip. Saves you the trouble of guesswork!

Of course, as with the previous years, the PTM will showcase interactive booths, eye-catching installations, regional displays, and a line-up of vibrant cultural performances that celebrate Philippine heritage and artistry.

Whether it’s relaxing on a beach getaway, feasting on local cuisines, exploring an emerging destination, or discovering a new heritage site, the Philippine Travel Mart surely has you—and your wallet—covered.

So, travel bugs, are you ready to hit up the Philippine Travel Mart this weekend?

Tickets to the event will be available onsite, but expect long queues. So, best to skip the lines and grab tickets now through the website. You can purchase a 1 Day Pass for P120, or a 3 Day Pass for the entire duration of the event for P320. Children aged 7 and below are admitted free of charge.

As a special treat for account holders of EastWest Bank—the PTM’s official bank partner— purchasing a ticket using your credit or debit card will get you one (1) complimentary admission ticket of the same type.

The 37th Philippine Travel Mart is happening on September 2 to 4 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Doors to PTM are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit the Philippine Travel Mart website.

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