Northern Samar promotes tourism sites at international travel fair in Cebu

TACLOBAN CITY —The provincial government of Northern Samar is stepping up efforts to
attract more visitors by promoting its key tourism destinations during the 11th Internation
al Travel Festival (ITF) 2026 held in Cebu City.

Through its Provincial Tourism Office, Northern Samar joined the three-day tourism expo held at the Water front Cebu City Hotel and Casino, which gathered travel destinations, tour operators, airlines, hospitality groups, and tourism stakeholders from across the Philippines and abroad. The province used the event to showcase its emerging tourist destinations, including its pristine beaches, island communities, eco-tourism attractions, and cultural heritage sites, as part of efforts to strengthen its presence in the country’s
tourism market.

Tourism officials said participating in the travel fair also aims to tap into the large tourism mar ket of Cebu, one of the country’s busiest travel gateways, and encourage travelers arriving there to extend their trips to Northern Samar.

During the opening ceremony, Pamela Baricuatro welcomed exhibitors and participants and expressed support for collaborative efforts among destinations to further strengthen the Philippine tourism industry.

Connectivity between Northern Samar and Cebu has also improved with direct flights operated by Philippine Airlines linking Catarman National Airport and Mactan–Cebu International Airport, significantly reducing travel time for both domestic and international travelers.

Provincial tourism officials said Northern Samar’s participation in the international travel fair forms part of its broader strategy to promote the province as an emerging tourism destination in Eastern Visayas while forging partnerships that could help bring more
visitors to the province.

ROEL T. AMAZONA