The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) will close its 2026 Beyond Borders on the Road (BBOTR) series in Perth on 22 July with major sponsors Philippine Airlines and PassportCard delivering trade sessions on Asia-Pacific demand and shifting Australian travel patterns.
The sold-out Perth event is the final leg of the national BBOTR series that has already run in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, and it lands with a distinctly Asia-Pacific lens for WA travel professionals.
Philippine Airlines has joined as a major sponsor and will present alongside the Philippine Department of Tourism, covering key experiences and destinations across the Philippines and the connectivity between WA and the country.
ATIA’s July Travel Trends Report found more than 300,000 Australians travelled to the Philippines in the year to May 2026 with steady growth across other Asia-Pacific markets.
Why the Philippines angle matters for WA advisors
For WA-based tour operators, travel advisors and corporate travel professionals, the session positions the Philippines as a developing market for clients looking to explore Asian destinations closer to home.
Philippine Airlines Country Manager Krystle Ramirez-Gastrock said the session is a platform to showcase the carrier’s network and share market insight.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with the Australian Travel Industry Association and the Philippine Department of Tourism for our session at Beyond Borders on the Road. This partnership provides an excellent platform to showcase why Philippine Airlines is the airline of choice for travel to the Philippines, while sharing valuable market insights with attendees,” she said.
Philippine Department of Tourism Sydney Officer in Charge Cassandra Sta. Maria-Camonggol said the country offers more than holiday appeal.
“We are delighted to work alongside the Australian Travel Industry Association and Philippine Airlines to showcase the Philippines as a destination beyond leisure. Whether for business, wellness, education, culture or unforgettable holidays, the Philippines offers diverse experiences for Australian travellers, and we look forward to strengthening industry partnerships and inspiring more visitors to discover all that the Philippines has to offer,” she said.
What PassportCard will cover
Fellow major sponsor PassportCard will deliver a session on current Australian travel trends, including how the Middle East conflict earlier in the year affected travel.
The presentation spans where Aussies are travelling, how they are planning trips and their attitudes towards travel advisors, aimed at tour operators, advisors and corporate travel businesses selling in an uncertain market.
PassportCard CEO Peter Klemt said the timing is deliberate.
“We’re excited to be sponsoring BBOTR Perth and sharing our expertise to equip attendees with a deeper understanding of current travel trends. The market is changing, and we’re sharing the knowledge to help attendees’ businesses thrive,” he said.
How BBOTR feeds into the Melbourne summit
The BBOTR series acts as a prelude to the flagship 2026 Beyond Borders Travel Summit, which opens the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) weekend in Melbourne on 9 October with tickets now on sale.
ATIA CEO Dean Long said member support has driven the series, which has maxed out attendance at recent events.
“Bringing Beyond Borders on the Road across the country is all about equipping our members with the tools to thrive in the current travel market and we’re excited to welcome Philippine Airlines as a major sponsor for Perth. The way Aussies travel is changing, and their session will help members sell Asia-Pacific travel to clients with a fresh angle,” he said.
KARRYON UNPACKS: With the Philippines drawing more than 300,000 Australians in the past year, ATIA’s Perth session gives WA advisors a fresh APAC product for clients, backed by the carrier and destination tourism board in the same room, plus the latest on Australian travel behaviour.
