GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) 12 has made a bold move in staging the opening Friday (June 23) of the 5th Treasures of SOX: A Travel & Trade Expo at the Midtown Atrium, Robinsons Place Manila.
The move, according to DOT 12 Chief Tourism Operations Officer Armin Hautea, aims to promote Soccsksargen as a “land of bounty” and establish a niche not only at the domestic level but also in the international arena.
It also intends to attract more domestic and international tourists to invest in local tourism for the various tourism sites in the region, aside from generating sales from the product presentations and showcases of stakeholders, Hautea said earlier during the Kapihan sa PIA at SM City General Santos.
“’Yung ating Treasures of SOX will be our platform to jointly promote ‘yung ating lugar so that it will become a destination by choice, hindi lang dadaanan nila but it’s a destination by choice,” Hautea pointed out.
The Treasures of SOX provides a venue where stakeholders can gather together to do some meaningful promotional activities as well as undertake business matching through B2B, or business-to-business, targeting at least 30 tour operators.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 12 OIC Asst. Regional Director Rictoniel Reginio said that “one of the most important components of the event is B2B, business to business, or what we call market matching. Because it is not just showcasing or exposing the product through exhibition, but it should be translated into something that the supplier and the buyer and other presenters will meet, so that they would be able to come up with or generate some good sales.”
Aside from B2B and product presentations, the 5th Treasures of SOX will also have a travel and trade fair, cultural performances, a fashion show, and publicity and promotions.
Reginio maintained that the DTI is committed to boosting the market presence of local products in Soccsksargen by capitalizing on their inherent strengths.
“We know for a fact that all those establishments that are featuring their products and services are always enterprises that we are supporting,” he said, citing the DTI-stimulus program One Town, One Product (OTOP)-featured specialties, the main stars in the exhibits.
The official affirmed that DTI continues to extend support to these OTOPs through various interventions, including product development, enhancement, and technological advancement.
Specifically, the Expo, which will end on Sunday, June 25 features the following Soccsksargen Region’s prime products, culture, and tourist destinations:
Exciting Exhibit Offerings:
*Iconic Crafts
*Wearables/ cultural fabric
*Fishery Products
*Processed Food
*Tour Packages on sale
*Free Sultan Kudarat coffee
Regulars:
*B2B – SOX Tourism Council and other Tour Operators
*Investment Forum
*Product Presentations
Daily Cutural Performances By:
* KoronadalHinugyaw Dance Troupe
Fashion Show:
* Fashion Collections by Ivan Raborar
Aside from the DTI, the event is also in partnership with various agencies, such as the DA, DA-ATI, DA-BFAR, TESDA, DENR, NEDA, PIA, local government units, the association of tourism officers, and SOX Tours. (With reports from Harlem Jude Ferolino/PIA SarGen)
