PANGLAO, Bohol (PIA) — In response to the call of the Marcos administration to ramp up measures this year to digitalize transactions and ensure efficient and fast delivery of services to the public, GCash staged the “Tara, G! Sulong Turismo” at Hennan Resort in this town on July 19, 2023.
As part of its vision to champion countryside development through digitalization, GCash partnered with the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) to revitalize the local tourism industry in the province through their joint campaign, ‘Sulong Turismo.’
‘Sulong Turismo’ aims to help boost the tourism sector by integrating digital payment solutions in local tourism campaigns.
Local government units (LGUs) with popular tourist spots will be empowered to adopt convenient cashless payments for such transactions as travel booking and accommodation, among others.
By leveraging on these digital tools and highlighting their wide-ranging benefits, the campaign hopes to enhance customer satisfaction, drive repeat visits, and invigorate the overall tourist experience.
Attended by speakers from LGUs, Department of Tourism (DOT), Klook, AirAsia, and the GCash Team, the event reintroduced the GCash App and offered attendees seamless GCash transactions during the event’s circuit tour.
The concept of a tourism circuit was presented at the event.
A tourism circuit encompasses a strategic route or itinerary that connects multiple tourist attractions within a specific region.
This structured approach promotes the region’s diverse offerings and entices tourists to spend more time discovering unique destinations.
DOT-7 Chief Tourism Officer Dr. Gelena Asis-Dimpas during the event unveiled plans for infrastructure development, a dedicated tourism website, and a cutting-edge tourism app.
These initiatives aim to incentivize tourism-related businesses to embrace digital payments, ultimately fostering growth and prosperity in the sector.
As a government partner with its commitment to the development of cashless shopping tourism, GCash Chief Marketing Officer Neil Trinidad said they are proud to be a part of the ‘Sulong Turismo’ initiative.
“Financial inclusion towards economic growth has always been the main goal of GCash. And we believe that this can be achieved through partnerships with both the public and private sector, so that together we can present opportunities to business owners as well as the consumers, for a safer, secure, convenient and profitable payment solutions that can boost the domestic tourism industry,” Trinidad said.
The campaign was officially inaugurated through a seminar and dialogue, where the advantages of a digitalized tourism industry were discussed with a particular focus on LGUs with prominent tourist destinations.
Other guests who attended the event included BSP Regional Head of Economic Affairs Greg Baccay, Panglao Vice Mayor Noel Hormachuelos, and Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap.
It may be recalled that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 23rd International Cable Congress Exhibit at the Manila Hotel on March 3, 2023 underscored the urgency of fully digitalizing the economy.
Marcos said he recognizes the big role the private sector can play in assisting the micro, small and medium enterprises using digital platforms. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)
