MANILA, Philippines--The National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), which has 17 provincial and city chapters nationwide, will hold the first Travel Market Exchange (Tramex) in Clark, Pampanga on Nov. 6.

Dubbed Tramex North Philippines Edition 2009, Naitas chair emeritus Robert Lim Joseph said the one-day event was aimed at highlighting the importance of northern Philippines and the Subic, Clark and Laoag corridor in expanding the travel and tour business through an organized buying and selling activity.

Joseph spoke during the launch of ?Naitas Lakbay Tulong Relief Drive? and the induction of officers of the Pampanga chapter at Clark.

?We are expecting 300 buyers and sellers, 20 of them from Singapore and Malaysia. This event will bring sellers and buyers together as potential business partners,? said Joseph.

The Tramex would include seminars on Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions; Product Development; and Tour Destinations Marketing, among others, he said.

?Choosing Clark as the venue for Tramex is but fitting since it?s a one and a half hour drive from Manila, it?s international airport is accessible to inbound and outbound travellers, and there are numerous hotels and shops, not to mention historical and cultural sites,? according to Naitas chair Angel Ramos Bognot.

At the launch were Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president and CEO Victor Luciano, Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Hotel and Restaurant Association of Pampanga president Marco Nepomuceno, Clark Freeport Tourism Association president Philip Golding, Pamela Flores of the Angeles City Tourism Office;

Acto senior tourism operations officer Edeline Angeles-Gozom, Naitas Bulacan chapter president Evangeline Buenaventura, Naitas Bosz (Bataan, Olongapo, Subic, Zambales) president Rosee Lee, CDC Tourism Office manager Noemi Garcia, and Greater Clark Visitors Bureau president Jun Cruz.

Tramex has the support of the Department of Tourism, Philippine Tourism Authority, Clark Development Corp., Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, CIAC, Pagcor and Holiday Inn Clark.

More information may be obtained from Ivan at the Naitas secretariat at tel. 5238375 or 5244768 or e-mail naitas_association@yahoo.com.