IT'S bargains galore when major players in the local travel industry hold their exhibitions this month ahead of the much-anticipated Natas Holidays 2007 fair.

Holiday-makers are spoilt for choice. Leading travel agency Chan Brothers Travel started the ball rolling with its one-day "Chan Brothers Massive Travel En Bloc Sale" at Suntec City yesterday. Apart from travel packages at "rock bottom prices", the customers were treated to a wide choice of gifts when they booked their tickets.

Last weekend, ASA Holidays also organised a preview roadshow exclusively for its old customers and its partner bank's credit card holders. Come Sunday, ASA Holidays expects some 35,000 visitors to visit its Power-Packed! travel fair at Suntec City. Ms Eileen Oh, ASA Holidays' senior manager of marketing communications, says: "With more than half a million dollars spent on sales and marketing effort this August, we foresee sales at the travel fairs will hit over $15 million, with $10 million on this Sunday alone."

Fuelled by a buoyant economy, cheap air fares and attractive deals, the travel agencies expect thousands of visitors to their fairs this month and to close deals that will spell millions of dollars in revenue.

Ms Ruth Lim, marketing and communications manager at SA Tours, explains the company's rationale for organising travel fairs over three weekends this month. She says: "Most Singaporeans would have travelled extensively in May or June during the school holidays, so August is the period when they start planning for the year-end holidays. Some also plan for short getaways in August."

At Commonwealth Travel Service, its deputy manager of marketing & public relations, Mr Lee Chuen Kiat, says the travel fairs in August give those who are undecided about where to go plenty of time to browse before taking up a package at Natas. He says: "Consumers will also get a preview of some of the packages that will be sold during Natas in September. The August fairs will give them a better idea of what is offered so that they can be better prepared if they wish to do their bookings at Natas."

Ms Chris Tay, deputy general manager at Five Stars Tours, adds: "August fairs bring us closer to our potential customers in advance before Natas."

With the spate of travel fairs, the tour agencies say that bargains and freebies alone are not enough to pull in the crowd. Ms Jane Chan, marketing communications executive at Chan Brothers Travel, says: "At our travel fair last Sunday, we had holiday previews and themed country pavilions so that customers are better informed when they purchase travel packages with us. Essentially, we want our customers to not only enjoy good travel deals but also to feel fulfilled, enriched and entertained."

Ms Eileen Oh from ASA Holidays adds: "At our upcoming fair this Sunday, one can look forward to world-class performances, including the Broadway Hit, Nanta, as well as Street Life, featuring dancers and acrobats from South America, Europe and China."