The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions division of the Ministry of Tourism (DOT), launched the first Hybrid Tourism and Technology Forum (TTF) on Wednesday in Okada, Manila, with the theme “Accelerating digital technologies for sustainability and SMARTourism ”.

The two-day hybrid event is designed to provide industry stakeholders with a learning platform where they can take advantage of the latest developments and innovations in technology through a series of informational events and open discussions from distinguished guests and speakers.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and TPB-COO Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones chaired the hybrid opening ceremony which was attended by more than 900 registered participants, most of whom were practically in attendance with limited attendance locally and from various sectors of the tourism industry. The event was also attended by the President of the Tourism Congress in the Philippines, Jojo Clemente, and the CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Mario Hardy, both of whom gave messages of solidarity.

“One of the strategic goals of the Ministry of Tourism is the linchpin for SMARTourism. We want to strengthen the digital platforms, ensure data-driven planning and expand other tools for advertising and marketing, ”said Secretary Puyat during her keynote address.

“Smart tourism is defined in terms of the technological capabilities of a particular destination, attraction, or the tourists themselves. As with any other travel destination, the ultimate goal of smart tourism is to improve the efficiency of resource management, improve our competitiveness and improve sustainability through the use of technological innovations and practices, ”she added.

The plenary sessions will be attended by tech giants, including former DICT Commissioner and CEO of IdeaCorp, Prof. Emmanuel Lallana, who will discuss “Digital Transformation in PH Tourism”. and Hong-Eng Koh, a Singapore-based Global Chief Public Services Industry Scientist for Huawei Technologies who will address “The Imperative for Digital Public Services Towards SMARTourism,” to name a few.

The professor at the University of De La Salle, Dr. Francisco Magno, Deputy Director of the International Center for Tourism and Hospitality Research and Professor at Bournemouth University, DimitriosBuhalis, and the Tourism Officer of the City of Baguio, Alec Mapalo, whose VISITA app is one of the first local contacts for tourism platforms, will also be frameworks and trends in a panel entitled “Sustainable Smart Tourism in Smart Cities”.

“Our tourism players are continuously improving their business operations in order to be successful in the highly competitive market and artisanal strategies to keep tourism alive in challenging times. The forum hopes to broaden the discourse not only to generate best practices and new ideas in response to the current situation, but also to maintain good relationships and strengthen collaboration within the sector to develop future projects promoting smart tourism to plan the Philippines.

Changes in the travel and technology landscape go beyond improving our processes or the tourist experience. it means changing the entire tourism system itself.

“I hope the Tourism and Technology Forum will encourage everyone to rethink travel by building dynamic Filipino tourism. Enhancing the product offering of our destinations and meeting the needs of our increasingly tech-savvy international and domestic travelers, ”concluded Secretary Puyat.

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