TRAVEX 2026 Officially Kicks Off; Welcomes 600 Foreign Buyers and Local Sellers in Cebu

Cebu, Philippines, January 29, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) flagship travel trade exchange, TRAVEX 2026, officially opened its doors, gathering 271 buyers from 50 countries across the globe, 124 sellers, and 222 exhibitors at the newly purpose-built Mactan Expo Center in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on Wednesday (Jan. 29).

Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the opening ceremony, alongside Minister of Tourism of Indonesia Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, ASEAN Tourism Association President Eddy Krismeidi, Tourism Promotions Board COO, Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, representatives from ASEAN member states, local officials, and dignitaries, all united by a shared regional vision—to promote ASEAN as a unified tourism destination.

The three-day TRAVEX showcases tourism enterprises, tour operators, destination marketers, and buyers from ASEAN, including the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the regional bloc’s newest member state, Timor-Leste.

Philippine exhibitors include hotels and resorts, travel and tours agencies, MICE venues, airlines, and government agencies, all of which come together to be at the center of regional commerce, hoping to strengthen market access for local sellers.

“TRAVEX showcases the diversity and maturity of ASEAN tourism offerings. It is a platform that brings together not only destinations and products but also aspirations, partnerships, and shared responsibility for the future of tourism in our region,” said Secretary Frasco, affirming that the travel trade event is more than a business but an opportunity that leads to tangible outcomes, lasting collaborations, and a stronger ASEAN tourism community.