PATA Travel Mart 2012

September 25 - 28, 2012

SMX Convention Center

Philippines

QuickFacts

Venue: The PATA Travel Mart 2012 will be held at SMX Convention Center, Metro Manila, Philippines.
 
Address: Seashell Lane, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, 1300 Philippines.

Dress Code: Business attire is the official dress code during PTM2011 business sessions. Dress code for evening social functions, unless otherwise specified within the program, is smart casual attire or national costume.

About Manila                                                                                                                                     

• Official Language: The two official languages are Filipino and English. Filipino which is based on Tagalog is the national language. However, English is widely spoken and used as the dominant language in business, government, commerce and education.

• Time: Eight hours ahead of GMT (+8 GMT)

• Weather: The Philippines has a tropical climate and is usually hot and humid. There are three seasons: the hot or dry season from March to May; the wet or rainy season from June to October; and the cool dry season from November to February. Temperatures usually range from 21°C (70°F) to 32°C (90°F) although it can get cooler or hotter depending on the season. 

• What to wear: Light, casual clothes are recommended. Warmer garments are needed for mountain regions. When visiting churches and temples, propriety dictates that shorts and scanty clothing be avoided. Formal occasions require dinner jackets and ties for men and cocktail dresses or long gowns for women.

• Water: Water supplies in Metro Manila and in all the other major cities are considered potable. Bottled purified water, spring water or mineral water is often supplied by hotels and resorts, and sold in all grocery stores.

• Business Hours: Most businesses are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays and 8:00 AM till noon Saturdays. Banks are open from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. When banking in the Philippines, it is advisable to have your passport with you for identification.

• Currency: The Philippines’ currency is the peso (sign: ₱; code: PHP). It is subdivided into 100 centavos. Bank notes are available in denominations of P10, P20, P50, P100, P500, P1000 pesos. Coins come in 5, 10, 25 centavo and 1, 5 and 10 peso. Next to the peso, the US dollar enjoys wide acceptance at the hotels, large department stores, banks and authorized money exchange shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. Check http://www.oanda.com for exchange rate updates.

• Telephone: International Direct Dialing Service is widely available all over The Philippines. For outgoing international calls from the Philippines, dial 00. Country code: +63 Manila City code: 2. As in many other countries, for domestic non-local calls in the Philippines always dial 0 before the area code. For local calls just dial the subscriber number.

• Electricity: Most residences and business centers in the Philippines are using 220 volts a/c. However, a number of major hotels also have 110 volt a/c outlets.

• Anti-Smoking Law: MANILA, Philippines - Section five of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9211) prohibits the carrying of any lighted tobacco product in public vehicles, schools, health centers, elevators, cinemas, malls and in places where fire hazards are present. Smoking is also banned in recreational facilities for minors. Fines imposed on violators of this section range from P500 to P10,000.

The information below was retrieved from the Philippines Tourism website. Please visit http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph / http://www.tourism.gov.ph for more useful tips and information.

• Visa Information: All tourists may enter without a formal visa and stay for 21 days. Please check the VISA FREE countries for Philippines

The tourists must holding a valid passport and either a return ticket or a ticket to a destination outside of the Philippines. However, tourists who wish to stay longer than 21 days are require applying for a visa. 

Holders of Brazil and Israel passports are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding fifty-nine (59) days.

Holders of Hong Kong (SAR), British, Portuguese Passports issued in Macao and Macao (SAR) are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven (7) days.

Time required issuing a visa: 2 days in average.
Visa validation: Single-entry (59 days from date of issue); Multiple-entry (between 6 months and 1 year from date of issue). Visas normally allow stays of up to 60 days. Extensions are possible at the discretion of the Bureau of Immigration.

• Airport fees: Airport fees of PhP750 (about US$18) for international flights and PhP100-200 for domestic flights (paid in Philippine pesos only) will be charged upon departure.

• Customs: Upon Arriving: Visitors are allowed to bring in duty free personal belongings, two cartons of cigarettes or two tins of pipe tobacco and up to one liter of alcohol. Balikbayans have separate rules and should check with the Embassy or Consulate in their home city.You may bring in unlimited amount of foreign currency.

Upon Leaving: Any antiques you may have acquired during your stay must be accompanied by a certificate from the National Museum. You may also not take more than PhP5,000.00 (five thousand Philippine pesos) out of the country.