CLARK FREEPORT — The Department of Tourism has launched the North Luzon Travel Fair on Friday at the SMX Convention Center here.

DoT Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco led the opening of the fair which is spearheaded by the DoT Cordillera Administrative Region, DoT Ilocos Region, DoT Cagayan Valley and DoT Region Central Luzon in coordination with the Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga.

According to the DoT, the fair is the first of its kind in the country and will run for 18 to 20 November.

The travel fair aims to showcase the best travel deals and tourism packages from North Luzon and across all regions in the Philippines.

With the theme "Weaving our way to Recovery", the travel fair aims to spur tourism activity, promote inclusive recovery, and fuel the Philippine economy.

Frasco said that one of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s thrust is to revive the tourism industry of the country. She cited that the President has declared more long weekends for 2023 to boost the country's tourism recovery.

She added that the President aims to adjust the holidays as part of his "holiday economics" policy, adding that a longer weekend will help encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures in the country.