Among the forum’s resource persons were Raymund Villanueva, Head of Enterprise Growth at PayMaya, and Max Limpag, founder of Innopub Media, who shared their insights and expertise on digital services that can help business owners thrive in the new normal for tourism.

In its recently concluded tourism forum which brought together key stakeholders of the province, the local tourism office of Sorsogon highlighted the need for local destinations and establishments to integrate health protocols, revamp business processes, and adopt digital platforms—including the #MahalKongSorgoson mobile app and PayMaya, to enable the province to safely and confidently resume in the new normal.  
 
The #MahalKongSorgoson mobile app is part of the collaboration between the Provincial Government of Sorsogon, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart, to enhance network capabilities and implement the digital tourism program in the province. 
 
“The health and safety of our community is our utmost priority as we adapt to tourism’s new normal. This forum has allowed us to listen to our constituents, learn from the experts, and level up the travel experience in our province. We are grateful for the continuous cooperation and collaboration of local stakeholders and our partners, as we stand united to restart tourism in Sorsogon,” said Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
 
“Through our digital tourism program, PLDT and Smart aim to contribute to heritage conservation efforts and raising appreciation of the historical and cultural significance of our top tourism sites.  With the right information, tools and connectivity, digital tourism provides a compelling alternative to sightseeing in the new normal,” said Catherine Yap-Yang, PLDT-Smart First Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications.
 
To help the province bounce back, Raymund Villanueva, Head of Enterprise Growth at PayMaya, and Max Limpag, founder of Innopub Media, shared their insights and expertise on digital services that can help business owners thrive in the new normal for tourism. 
 
“Contactless payment is now the safest way to complete transactions. Now, more than ever, merchants need to accept all forms of payments anytime, anywhere, to provide travelers with a more inclusive, protected, and rewarding tourism experience in the next normal. PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments enabler in the Philippines,” Villanueva said.

“The digital tourism collaboration of Sorsogon, PLDT-Smart, and Innopub empowers destinations by creating a personal protective bubble for guests. The platform enables contactless delivery of information on heritage sites, culture and history that are accurate and timely. This is important right now because in dealing with COVID-19, we’re told to avoid physical contact with people and objects,” Limpag, added.
 
Limpag also explained how digital tourism can boost destinations in the province by using mobile technology to deliver information. He added that the interactive platform creates a more engaging experience for tourists while limiting physical contact with people and common touch points. 
 
In partnership with government units, the digital tourism program of PLDT-Smart and InnoPub is a nationwide initiative that harnesses technology to deliver tourism, cultural, and historical information to mobile users. The program was launched in 2012 and has since been implemented in over 20 destinations all over the country. It involves the creation of tourism apps and the installation of interactive markers in selected tourist and heritage landmarks to trigger the download of more information.
 
To provide the backbone for digital tourism, PLDT and Smart have expanded the reach and capacity of their fixed and mobile networks across the country, including Sorsogon, to serve the increased data demands of the 'new normal.'
 
As of December 2020, PLDT's fiber infrastructure, the most extensive in the country, comprised of more than 429,000 kilometers. This fiber infrastructure supports Smart's mobile networks, which now cover 96% of the population and is available in 95% of the country's cities and municipalities. Smart increased the number of its base stations to over 59,000 at the end of 2020 and as well rolled out additional 5G sites as it accelerates its 5G commercial services nationwide.