The province of La Union highlighted the need for continuous collaboration with private sector partners such as PLDT, Smart, Paymaya and Innopub Media, to help jumpstart an embattled tourism industry.

In a recently concluded tourism forum that brought together key stakeholders of the region, La Union Provincial Tourism Office OIC Arthur S. Cortez, Jr. said, “The covid-19 pandemic is regarded as one of the most impactful gamechangers and the tourism sector took the biggest blow. But amid the uncertainty, we remain resolute in our mission of building and reinforcing the image of our province as a home for high-spirited, resilient, and optimistic communities.”

Since 2012, PLDT and Smart, together with key partners--Innopub Media and Paymaya, have been working with local government units, including the province of La Union, to promote the use of technology in nation-building.

“We continue to work with partners to roll out our digital tourism program that allows travelers and the faithful to access key heritage and catechism information using mobile technology.  We believe that when equipped with the right information, tools, and connectivity, the tourism sector can safely and confidently resume post-Covid 19,” said Catherine Yap-Yang, PLDT and Smart First Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications.

Raymund Villanueva, Head of Enterprise Growth at PayMaya, and Max Limpag, founder of Innopub Media, shared their insights and expertise on these services that can help business owners pivot to tourism’s new normal.

“Now, more than ever, is the time to embrace digital payments. For the consumer, it is more convenient and rewarding. For businesses, it drives efficiency and promotes safety as it involves less cash handling and face-to-face interactions. More importantly, going digital enables users to build a financial footprint that can open up access to credit, insurance, and other key financial services,” Villanueva said.

“Covid-19 has changed our world. There is not turning back from mobile and digital transactions. The pandemic has allowed us to re-engineer processes that minimize contact and enable us to build personal protective bubbles for tourists. Technology-driven delivery of information as demonstrated by our digital tourism is perfect for our time,” Limpag added.

Digital Tourism is a nationwide initiative to deliver tourism, cultural, and historical information to mobile users. Since its launch, the program has been made available in over 20 destinations all over the country. It involves the creation of tourism apps, installation of QR- and NFC-powered interactive tourism markers, and the promotion of key partnerships with private and public institutions.

“This endeavor is a manifestation of the active collaboration of the private sector to work with the government--a vital initiative during these trying times, where unity is imperative to achieve true development and progress. Indeed, we should all heal, rise and succeed as one,” Cortez concluded.