The Department of Tourism (DoT) launched two separate partnerships on Tuesday, which aim to support the expansion of local vendors and promote local destinations.
Under the agency’s partnership with TikTok, tourism micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) would undergo a one-day training or “educational sessions” focused on utilizing the platform’s tools to spice up their sales and expand their market.
“I feel the great thing about this partnership is that it aligns the platform with the (DoT’s) objectives. The platform of TikTok, which has a worldwide reach, and the objectives of Philippine tourism, which seeks to learn the whole nation,” Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco told reporters on the sidelines of the launch.
In response to TikTok Philippines Public Policy Head Yves P. Gonzalez, this system will follow a three-module “Content Camp” that covers topics on content creation, live selling, and promoting.
“Our goal here is to assist the MSMEs, specifically those that aren’t yet using the platform, and level up those that are already using it,” Mr. Gonzales said. “It’s about really empowering them with digital skills to permit them to level up.”
The tourism chief noted that this system will likely be piloted in Metro Manila and Cebu in November to assist small hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, travel agencies, and tourism groups.
“I specifically mentioned Cebu, whose tourism industry within the north has been utterly devastated by the recent earthquakes,” she said. “So, they’re one in all the targets that we’re targeting to offer intervention by way of this partnership with TikTok.”
“Let’s do not forget that many individuals are using TikTok. It’s a very talked-about platform. And so, the Department of Tourism wishes to assist as many tourism stakeholders as possible,” she added.
The primary batch of the TikTok training program will open to at the least 50 DoT-accredited businesses in a hybrid setup. Other interested applicants can express their intention to affix through the agency’s regional offices.
“Our TikTok team and the central office team will put together the names of those endorsed by the regional office, and we may have the list of names,” DoT Assistant Secretary Sharlene Zabala-Batin said.
The DoT earlier reported that around 1,200 tourism staff in Cebu were displaced by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the province on September 30.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has also prolonged its support to over a thousand affected staff by allocating P11 million for the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Employees) program.
IBP PARTNERSHIP
In a separate partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the DoT launched a privilege card for lawyers in “good standing” to encourage local travel and tourism spending.
“Their jurisdiction is national, not only during their conventions but additionally within the handling of cases in courts all around the country,” Ms. Frasco told reporters. “So, then it’s a continuing stream of income for our local tourism destinations.”
The IBP privilege card offers discounts and special rates at DOT-accredited enterprises, including hotels, resorts, travel agencies, and tour operators.
The IBP National Director and Chairman Allan G. Panolong said that about 48,000 good-standing lawyers could register for the IBP privilege card.
“In the event that they didn’t pay their membership dues, lawyers are ineligible to avail this system,” Mr. Panolong said. “We give the list to the Department of Tourism to be certain that only qualified lawyers can avail.”
The Tourism chief noted that one in all the aspects considered for the partnership is lawyers’ travel behavior. “So once they travel, it’s not only them; additionally they bring their families with them.”
By travelling with their families, Ms. Frasco underscored how lawyers contribute more to domestic tourism expenditures and tourism stakeholders.
“They don’t just stay overnight; they stay for several days. It’s not only their hotel stays and airline tickets that contribute, but additionally the ancillary services – the places where they eat, their transportation, shopping, and souvenirs,” she said.
“The continual stream of lawyers, members of the IBP, that travel across the country stimulates our local economies,” she added.
Other than the privilege card, IBP may even offer free legal consultations, training, and representation to qualified DoT-accredited individuals and establishments to safeguard tourism staff and businesses during disputes and crises.
“We hope that its impact by way of our community support will likely be felt by our destinations,” Ms. Frasco said. — Almira Louise S. Martinez