To enlighten, empower, inspire. These are the key objectives of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP)as it gathers tourism representatives of local governments, private operators, other tourism stakeholders, including key personalities of the Department of Tourism (DOT) for its online convention on Oct 29, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.

Entitled “PinasForward: Let’s move as one to revitalize our country’s tourism industry,” the event’s theme encompasses the end mindset which the ATOP leadership wishes to convey to its members, and all participants.

That if ATOP members and private operators want foreign and local tourism to continue to thrive during and beyond the pandemic, “they should think and act beyond their locality,” said ATOP President Arwin Paul A. Lingat.

“They must be enlightened, empowered, and inspired to move the entire country’s tourism industry forward,” he added.

The whole world was caught unprepared by COVID-19 and declared an unprecedented twist-and-turn of events.  It has forced many organizations to the “age of adaptability” and “new normal business approaches” to be able to survive and be ready to welcome a more safety-cautious traveler.

Now that the country’s tourism industry slowly regains its momentum, this morale-boosting event is a timely venue to revisit prior-set goals on unified competence and dynamic practices, as well as programs halted by the ongoing pandemic.  The online event also allows members and attendees to discuss measures to adapt to the current tourism landscape while openly presenting localized current and future applications.

This 3-hour event, which includes an inspirational, comprehensive training, entertainment micro-segments aside from the actual convention of members, is open to LGUs (municipalities, cities, provinces), schools, tourism stakeholders.

To help the attendees to rise above today’s challenges and take the lead in steering your local tourism industry to recovery,  featured speakers include Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Chief Executive Officer of Global Sustainable Tourism Council Randy Durband, and John Maxwell speaker Francis Kong were invited to its pool of resource speakers.  Seasoned TV and events host, Miss Global 2016 first runner-up, and Miss Global Philippines 2016, CJ Hirro will be moderating the event.

For the fun part, while helping the local destinations promote their unique offerings, registered participants may also join in to ATOP’s various contest for a chance to win Php10,000 in cash (for contest inquiries, send an e-mail to atopnationalconvention@gmail.com or contact Franco Santos at +63917.857.1212, deadline to submit entries is on October 27).

Attendance to the event comes with a minimal fee.  Interested parties may sign up through www.atop.org.ph/atop-national-convention .

ATOP is an organization of tourism officers from all over the country.

Established on Oct 4, 2001 to foster unity in the tourism industry and promote the welfare of its members and the traveling public, ATOP has now evolved into a crucial player in the various levels of tourism-oriented  organizations.