Cotabato travel fair expands BARMM tourism markets

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), will bring the 18th Regional Travel Fair (RTF) to Cotabato City on August 14 to 16, 2026, at the Alnor Hotel and Convention Center.

The second installment of this year’s RTF puts the spotlight on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as it enters a more deliberate stage of development, aligning destination promotion with stronger market access for the enterprises and communities behind them.

“Beyond traditional business matchmaking, the RTF serves as a platform for buyers, sellers, and travelers to discover more reasons to love the Philippines while opening opportunities for long-term partnerships,” said TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.

The three-day event will kick off with a business-to-business (B2B) session on August 14, bringing together 42 buyers and 52 sellers/exhibitors.

Through B2B meetings, participants can present tourism products, explore partnerships, and work toward bookings that extend beyond the fair.

The public can also join the RTF through its business-to-consumer (B2C) session on August 15 to 16, where visitors can get special offers on domestic travel packages, airline tickets, accommodations, and more. The event will also feature interactive segments and showcases from DOT regional offices and attached agencies, BARMM tourism stakeholders, local government units, and industry partners.

Meanwhile, invited buyers, sellers, and media will experience curated familiarization tours around Cotabato City and nearby destinations. Visits to landmarks such as the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque, Bangsamoro Museum, Al Jamelah Weaving Center, and Illana Bay Beach Resort will introduce them to the region’s Islamic heritage and living traditions.

The Cotabato City leg comes as the region advances the BARMM Tourism Development Plan 2025-2033, outlining long-term strategies to strengthen the tourism industry and boost its contribution to local economies.

Organized in collaboration with the DOT, the BARMM Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism, and the City Government of Cotabato City, TPB’s 18th Regional Travel Fair aims to help expand market access for BARMM tourism and support efforts to translate the region’s cultural and natural assets into sustainable economic opportunities.

For more details about the RTF, visit https://rtf.tpb.gov.ph.