As mentioned in my last week’s column, moves are underway to revive the sports sector of our tourism industry.
The Clark Special Economic Zone and Subic Bay Freeport have been encouraged by the sports community to jumpstart such recovery, being among the areas with very low incidents of COVID-19 infections due to its strict health protocols.
On their end, Clark and Subic are determined to prioritize health safety for athletes, organizers, and stakeholders, with the guidance of the Inter-Agency Task Force, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and the Department of Tourism (DOT). This move to make the sports industry be the first to help revive local and international tourism has been propelled by the opening of nominations for the 4th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA).
Organized by the Cebu-based Selrahco Management and Consultancy Services, with the support of DOT and PSC, this awards event is determined to push through, whether virtual or face-to-face, in the latter part of the year. The event will honor sports groups, private entities, and government agencies, based on activities organized or hosted in 2019.
Categories for nominations are: Sports Tourism Destination of the Year, Sports Tourism Organizer (Private and Government), Sports Tourism Event (Domestic and International), Sports Association, Sports Tourism Destination Marketing, and Sports Tourism Hotel.
Other categories are Sports Tourism Event Sponsorship, Sports Tourism Charity Event, Sports Tourism Airline, Sports Tour Operator, Adventure Event, Sports Venue, Sports MICE Event, and Sports Media Coverage.
Two special awards will also be given to prominent Sports Personalities in the private and government sectors.
The PSTA is the only one of its kind in the country, and it encourages professionalism in the planning and management of sporting events which consequently helps promote tourism.
The awards project is also aimed at helping both Clark and Subic reclaim their standing as premiere sports tourism hubs in the region, having hosted the 30th Southeast Asian Games last year.
Clark Development Corporation president Noel Manankil declared that despite the setbacks the destination experienced these past months, they are eager to resume sports activities to live up to their award as Sports Destination of the Year, which they won two years in a row.
On the other hand, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairperson Wilma Eisma believes that, as resilient as the Filipinos are, tourism will spring back to the heights it has reached before as one of the country’s most popular sports destinations.
PSTA president Charles Lim is now very busy compiling nominations for the various aforementioned categories.
More information on the 4th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards may be obtained from gabe.selrahco@gmail.com or through 0906-406-7051.