Collaboration among LGUs, hotels, and other tourism stakeholders is key to promoting travel successfully during the pandemic, according to Philippine Tour Operators Association, Inc. (PHILTOA) president Cesar Cruz.
Cruz spoke during a panel discussion at the 2nd Tourism and Technology Forum held last October 8. The two-day virtual event by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) gathered 2620 registered delegates.
“We’re trying to form consortiums, negotiate hotel rates, and negotiate transportation as a group, not as a single tour operator to encourage more partnerships with stakeholders and local communities,” said Cruz who spoke during the panel discussion on “Industry Responding to the New Era of Travel Uncertainty.”
On opening day, Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat encouraged more partnerships with stakeholders and local communities to further future tourism initiatives.
Discussions on “Digital Content Marketing: The Art of Storyt Telling” by TeamAsia’s Chief Storyteller Bea Lim, “5 Traveler Trends to Watch Out For” by TripZilla Senior Editor Alyosha Robillos, and even “Riding the Wave of Work from Anywhere” by Bloom Solutions’ Chief Strategy Officer Luis Buenaventura proved that there is still work to be done and upskilling is needed to secure the future.
During “The Rise of the Influencers” panel discussion, Global Woman Cyprus Director Elisabeth Villiger Toufexis put an emphasis on the pursuit of truth for influencers to be effective. “It’s an all-encompassing advice to tame the ill-effects of technology. If we are to be ready for a different future, we must not lose what makes us human in the first place — authentic connection.”
To ensure future readiness, Chief Operating Officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones highlighted that “Technology is a driver of change and is not meant to be our master. It is meant to connect us and inspire meaning in these connections and serve us and our purpose, which is to make our lives better.”
Originally designed as a hybrid event, the second edition of the Tourism & Technology Forum went fully virtual after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announced that Metro Manila would remain under General Community Quarantine (Alert Level 4).
The Tourism & Technology Forum is anchored on SMARTourism, one of TPB’s key program strategies aimed at leveraging and optimizing the use of technology to promote the Philippines as a safe, fun, and competitive destination.
