Recovery of PH Sports Tourism Pushed

Manila, Philippines — Despite the inactive sports scenario sector during the first half of 2020 caused by Covid-19 pandemic, moves are underway to revive the sector with the opening of the nominations for the 4th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA).

Organized by Cebu-based Selrahco Management and Consultancy Services and Supported by the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Sports Commission, the Awards will honor sports groups, private entities, and government agencies based on events 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 Tourism Sport Association, Sports Tourism Destination Marketing, Sports Tourism Hotel, 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 sector.

The only one of its kind in the country, PSTA encourages professionalism in the planning and management of sporting events to help promote tourism.

According PSTA founder and president Charles Lim, Clark Special Economic Zone and Subic Bay Freeport have been encouraged by the sports community to jump-start the recovery of the sector, being among the areas with very low incidence of Covid-19 due to its strict health protocols.

He said that the awards event will help the two business enclaves reclaim their standings as premier sports tourism hubs in the region, having hosted the 30th Southeast Asian Games last year.

Clark and Subic are prioritizing health safety for athletes, organizers, and stakeholders, with the guidance from the Inter-Agency Task Force, PSC, and the DOT.

“Despite the setbacks we experienced in the past months, the tourism industry activities in Clark will soon rise once more to show what made it the sports tourism destination of the year for two years,” says Clark Development Corp. president Noel Manankil.

“The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority 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 destinations,” says SBMA chair Atty. Wilma Eisma, who expressed optimism in resuming several events after its quarantine status has been reclassified.

Previous PSTA awardee events and organizers include Ironman 70.3, Sunrise Events, Philippine Football Association, Tabuelan 111, SunPiology, Ceres Football Club, Fat Boys 10s Rugby, and the Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Federation.

Government awardees are Clark Development Corp., Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Province of Cebu, City of Davao, City of Dumaguete, and the Municipality of Lubao (Pampanga).

Institutional recipients are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Resorts World Manila, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, and the Automobile Association Philippines.

For more information on the PSTA nominations, email gabe.selrahco@gmail.com or contact 0906-4067051 or 0949-4628108.

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