Manila, April 29,
2023 – Top travel vloggers
and influencers who have
made significant contribution and positive impact
to the country’s tourism
industry through their social media content will be
recognized during the Go
Negosyo Tourism Summit
2023 at SM Seaside City
in Cebu City on May 6.
This was shared
by Go Negosyo founder
Joey Concepcion, who
emphasized that these
social media travel and
tourism influencers have
played a key role in promoting the country’s various tourist spots, not just
locally, but also internationally.
“Influencers and
content creators are important,” he said. “This is
an area that will really help
our MSMEs. We hope to
have more content creators to market the Philippines in terms of having the best beaches, the
friendliest people, even
the best food in Asia,” he
said. “Through the internet, the domestic and local tourists can see more
of what they can expect
when they visit more places in the Philippines.
Top travel storytellers will gather in a
roundtable discussion
on “The Power of Storytelling”. Travel content
creators such as Bogart
the Explorer, Kyle “Kulas”
Jennermann of “Becoming
Filipino”, Carl Chuidian of
“The Chui Show”, Angelica Gapit of “Angelica and
Aileen Wanders”, and
Herbie Arabello of ”NSTV
Travel Vlog”.
A Special Award
for Travel Vloggers and
Influencers will give recognition to inspiring travel
content creators who have
made significant contributions to the country’s tourism landscape through social media. Aside from the
influencers and vloggers,
20 enterprises operating
in the tourism industry will
also be recognized via
the “Inspiring Tourism Entrepreneurs Awards” for
their role in promoting the
country’s tourism industry. The winners will come
from MSMEs in accommodations, tour services,
unique attractions, food
tourism, retail and services, community-based
cultural tourism and sustainable tourism/ecotourism.
Concepcion said
vloggers and influencers
have contributed directly to the recovery of the
country’s tourism industry
from following the travel
restrictions brought on by
the pandemic lockdowns.
“Through their
help, our tourism numbers
are now returning to its
pre-pandemic levels while
many income opportunities have opened for our
MSMEs in various parts of
the country,” he said.
Co-present –
ed by the Department of
Tourism and the Tourism
Promotions Board with
venue partner SM Seaside City, and with support
from the Cebu Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, the Tourism Summit
will gather the who’s who
in the travel and tourism
sectors, including industry experts, policymakers,
entrepreneurs, and other
stakeholders in a one-day
event to tackle the future
of Philippine tourism and
the economic opportunities it presents, particularly
for MSMEs.
To open the
event, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Tourism
Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco will deliver special
messages of encouragement.
Panel discussions led by key government officials and industry leaders will also be
held during the event.
The panelists include
ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) president Eddy Soemawilaga,
Cebu City Mayor Michael
Raa, General Luna Mayor Sol Matugas, Panglao
Mayor Edgardo Arcay,
PCCI Director for Tourism
Samie Lim, AirAsia CEO
Ricky Isla, Cebu Pacific
president Alexander Lao,
Henann president Alfonso
Chusuey, internationally
renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue, and Philippine Hotel Owners Association Executive Director
Benito Bengzon. PR
