TPB Concludes India Mega Fam Tour 2026, Strengthens International Market Ties with B2B Sessions
The Voice of Chandigarh | Travel Trade Reporter
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines successfully concluded its India Mega Familiarization Tour, hosting Indian travel agents in an immersive program designed to position the Philippines as a top-of-mind leisure and MICE destination for the Indian market.
A total of 30 Indian delegates, sponsored by Air India, flew in from major Indian gateways: Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Dehradun, Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Agra, Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), Chennai, and Indore. The first batch of 15 participants explored the culinary scene of Clark, the white sands of Boracay, and the urban attractions of Manila, offering a balanced introduction to the country’s diverse tourism offerings.
Meanwhile, the second batch of 15 delegates visited historic sites and toured beautiful islands in Cebu, engaged in exciting countryside and water activities in Bohol, and discovered Manila’s rich cultural and historical corridors.
To cap off the trip, the delegates took part in a business-to-business (B2B) networking sessions at the Grand Westside Hotel in Manila, where they engaged with 54 sellers, including travel operators and representatives from leading hotels and resorts in the Philippines.
“The India Mega Familiarization Tour is instrumental in positioning the Philippines as a leading destination for business and leisure by providing firsthand experiences across multiple destinations, the program equips Indian travel agents with deeper insights into the country’s diverse offerings, enabling them to confidently promote the Philippines to their clients,” said Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, TPB Chief Operating Officer.
The initiative aligns with the growing commitment of both countries to deepen tourism cooperation. During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s state visit to India in August 2025, the Implementation Program on Tourism Cooperation for 2025 to 2028 was signed, aimed at strengthening connectivity, encouraging tourism investments, and enhancing cultural exchange between the Philippines and India.
The successful hosting of the India Mega Familiarization Tour, complemented by B2B sessions, underscores the country’s readiness to capture greater share of the Indian outbound market and position itself as a compelling, high-value destination for both leisure and MICE travel.
As one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel markets, India remains a strategic priority for Philippine tourism. Indian arrivals reached 104,994 in 2025, marking a 33.64 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth is attributed in part to the implementation of the visa-free entry policy, which took effect on 8 June 2025, allowing Indian nationals to enter the Philippines without a visa for up to 14 days for tourism purposes, or up to 30 days if they hold valid visas or residence permits from select countries.
As the TPB continues to strengthen the country’s readiness to attract more Indian travelers, government-led efforts, in collaboration with industry partners, are focused on enhancing air connectivity, expanding and diversifying destination offerings, improving Indian-friendly services, and sustaining partnerships with airline and travel trade stakeholders. Supporting rising travel demand within Asia, Air India expanded its Delhi–Manila route from five weekly to daily flights starting in October 2025.
These developments reflect a positive trend in the Philippines’ growing appeal as a safe, accessible, and attractive destination for Indian travelers amid shifting global tourism patterns and evolving travel flows influenced by geopolitical developments.
