By JASON B. NEOLA
NAGA CITY — Events marked by strong inter-regional business matching and marketing are expected to build up soon with the holding of major trade fairs in this city, one of South Luzon’s premier business and economic centers.
This, after the organizers of the Bicol Travel & Food Expo (BiTFEx) have made their presence felt again in undertaking grand preparations for the holding of the expo’s second year this coming September 2013 here where almost three million visitors come yearly.
BiTFEx is organized by PBN Broadcasting Network in partnership with the City Government of Naga, Avenue Plaza Hotel, the Department of Tourism, Department of Agriculture, and the Dept. of Trade and Industry.
The activity is expected to be held alongside other established trade fairs, the Bicol Business Week, which will be on July 14-19, this year, and the Bishop Gainza Trade Fair which will be held on September 12-22, 2013.
As it did last year, the 2nd BiTFEx will serve as a convergent event for leading figures in tourism, food, agriculture, and hospitality industries who will showcase their best products, services, events, and tourist attractions from September 18-22, 2013 at the fully air-conditioned Tent of the Avenue Plaza Hotel in Magsaysay Avenue, this city.
According to Christine Ojeda, PBN TV5/DZOK station manager, the Expo exhibitors are composed mainly of 70 per cent Manila and Cebu-based establishments.
Other BiTFEx 2013 activities: Bicol Food Festival (inter-school/open competitions), travel and tour guiding seminars, conferences and fora, nightly shows, daily raffle draws, and other exciting events.
The event is expected to draw crowd for its daily thematic activities, like the Business-Tourism convergence, the “Asenso Bikolano” Agri-Livelihood Entrepreneurs Day, Health & Wellness Day, and the “Fiesta Naga, Fiesta Bicolandia” Song-Dance Competition.
With former Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia as guest, the event last year provided an appropriate venue for the presentation and exploration of various business and tourism potentials of the Cebu-Bicol link.
The forum on business-tourism convergence discussed the alliance formed by the provinces of Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon in boosting common economic growth. Former Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte talked about his province’s gains and triumphs with the operation of CWC and “how CamSur became the leading tourism destination in the Philippines.”