Tourism Promotion for BLISTT

I attended the 1st BLISTT Tourism Summit this morning which aims to come up with ideas leaning towards "Innovation in Tourism Towards BLISTT Competitiveness" at the Baguio Country Club, Baguio City. This is a two-day workshop/seminar organized by the HRAB, BCVB, and the City Government of Baguio.

For the sake of the 'younger' people like me, BLISTT (BLIST before without Tublay), was a concept conceptualized after the 1990 earthquake intended to promote partnership and coordination with the local governments of Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, and Tuba (and now with the recently added Tublay), for economic growth and in other aspects of development.

The event discussed the current tourism situation of Baguio City, the role of tourism in the economic development of the locality, the efforts of BLISTT, and of course the concept of innovation in management and in tourism. With such following theme, we were divided in 10 groups which will come up with an 'innovative idea' in promoting tourism among BLISTT partners. I'm quite happy that I was a part of the 'younger generation' group. This is what our group came up with:

Innovative reward system strategy:

Using “Coupons” to inspire tourism adventures 

      Srategies:

•Tourism centers/offices in tourist destinations will issue an official coupon representing “reward points” to tourists their upon registration.

•The tourist will complete six(6) coupons from the six partners of the BLISTT area in order to win a “reward”.

•Rewards can be souvenirs like t-shirts, key chains, or even a night stay at a hotel or a resort depending on the ‘points’. This can be achieved through partnership with the business sector/private partners.

•Illustration: Upon completion of the “adventure”, the tourist will present the coupons to the partner establishments (like convenient stores, clothing shops, etc.)  who will give them their rewards.

•Promoting an adventure of completing a “BLISTT tourism list” by visiting the tourism sights or experiencing the tourism products of each members of the BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay)

•The ‘coupon’ may also be issued by selected establishment after consumption/purchase of tourism goods (ex. Farms..)

•The experience, with the assistance of the Department of Tourism, may be marketed to the other members of ASEAN. 

The experience may be promoted as the:

                                                        “The great BLISTT adventure”

Other innovation to the reward points system:

•Reward point system: more sight visits, more points, more prizes.

•Weekly, monthly, or quarterly changes of coupons.

•Using bar codes.

•Using points for discounts on partner establishments.

Benefits and advantages:

•Business promotion/endorsement.
•Local government and business sector partnership
•Tourism statistics and data banking (e.g registration will be used in visitor’s data and statistics) 
•Tourist monitoring by the Police or Security offices.

•Less expense on tourism promotion (stakeholder culture)