PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is boosting tourism initiatives of provinces in northern Mindanao as restrictions start to ease up and domestic travel start to pick up. Through the eBiznovation program, Smart conducted a social media marketing workshop for the officers of Department of Tourism Region 10 (DOT-10) to help boost their tourism development campaigns. The initiative aims to equip partner agencies with digital skills that will expand their reach and help jumpstart their local economy in the new normal. 

DOT 10 Regional Director Marie Elaine Unchuan said, “As tourism stakeholders, we need to keep abreast of the latest in social media. We have been partnering with Smart because of our common advocacies in developing communities and tourism. Private sector participation is very important to promote and develop unique destinations other than the mainstream ones. And Smart plays a key role in enabling communities through technology and social media.” 

During the workshop, tourism officers from four provinces and seven cities in Northern Mindanao learned to create awesome content via the popular online graphic design tool, Canva. They were also taught different strategies on how to improve social media engagement. 

Bukidnon Provincial Tourism Officer, Butch Anthony Melendez, plans to share his newfound skills with his staff and colleagues from other offices of his local government unit. “I have been using a different editing software for some time, but this is my first time using Canva. It’s user-friendly and we can easily design brochures and promote the activities of the province through this application,” he said. 

Iligan City Senior Operations Tourism Officer Shayma Daison said, “I learned so much about digital marketing. Everybody is online and social media helps our tourism campaigns reach more people not just within the country but also internationally.” 

Early this year, Smart also teamed up with DOT 10 to encourage local content creators to promote Northern Mindanao destinations and cuisine, in support of tourism reopening. 

These initiatives that tap technology to promote local tourism are tucked under PLDT and Smart’s broader digital tourism program. PLDT and Smart leverage on digital technologies to develop and improve the lives and livelihood of communities across the country.