Digital tools to help revive PH tourism in new normal

After several months of lockdown in various parts of the Philippines, efforts are underway to revive economic activity.  This includes the tourism industry which is a top job generator for the country.

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For this purpose, a two-hour web forum titled “#TravelSmart: Safe and Sustainable Tourism in the New Normal” will be heldon July 16, 2020.  DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat will be the keynote speaker in the webinar.

The web forum has been organized by PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. in partnership with the DOT together with key partners such as Grassroots Travel, a non-government organization that helps communities protect their natural and cultural heritage through sustainable tourism.

Joining DOT Secretary Puyat as speakers are Al S. Panlilio, Smart Communications Inc. President and CEO, Joselito “Boboi” Costas, founder of Grassroots Travel, Mon Isberto, Public Affairs Group Head for PLDT and Smart, Carlo S. Ople, PLDT Vice President, Marvin Santos, PayMaya Philippines Inc. Enterprise Head for Public Sector, Max Limpag, InnoPub Media Co-founder, and Jomelyn Manigos-De los Reyes, Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association Vice President.

The webinar aims to shed light on the current challenges being faced by the tourism industry, to share best tourism practices of various institutions, and to present digital tools and mobile applications that local tourism players can tap and use to improve the tourism experience post-COVID.

Target participants for the webinar include representatives of local government units, tourism officers, culture and heritage groups and members of the news media.

“Reviving domestic tourism under current conditions requires that we combine seemingly opposed qualities: discipline with creativity, caution with confidence.  We hope that this webinar will provide insights on how the different stakeholders can work together to achieve this.  For Smart, we are keen to explore how digital technologies can help,” says Mon Isberto, Public Affairs head for PLDT and Smart.“To resuscitate the tourism industry, we have to work top to bottom and bottom to top, and empower the industry stakeholders especially the local communities in the rural areas who are the most vulnerable group even before this pandemic. They need to have the technological tool in order to advance— digital tools and a wealth of information and skills to have a share of the pie in the post-COVID era,” Costas adds.