Live, Travel, Adventure, Bless, and don’t be
sorry”
-Jack Kerouac
Yes. This quote says it all.
Since I was a kid, I’ve always
wanted to travel the world and have an adventure in every place that I would
go. Maybe it is because of the movies and cartoons that I have been watching,
with characters in different sides of the world doing amazing stuff like
flying, catching bad guys, jumping off a plane and more. But now that I have
grown, I still want those adventures that I have wanted when I was 5-7 years
old, but this time, it has become more realistic and limited.
For me, as a young student,
writer and traveller, the biggest adventure that I can have is to find and be
in a place which is not yet known by many. To learn information about these
kind of hidden paradise and to write about it.
Traveling is one of the main
concerns of the Tourism industry, that’s why it is no surprise to know that it
is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing industry in the world. Why?
Because people are constantly traveling. It is fortunate that I share my point
of view in life with other people as well. Also, the statistics of people going
out and about is growing at a remarkable rate. With the development of
technology in hands of people, giving them direct information on places to
travel, and with enough money to spend, it is really expected that the Tourism
and Travel industry be an in-demand entity nowadays and be a great big
opportunity of business in the future.
In line with this, BLVD
Productions from Tour 126 class in University of the Philippines Asian
Institute of Tourism – Diliman organized a tourism convention entitled TOUR U:
PROGRESSIVE TOURISM EXPLORING NEW OPPORTUNITIES, held last Saturday, November
29, 2014 at the UP School of Economics Auditorium.
Several students from
different colleges and universities attended the said event, namely from the UP
AIT, Miriam College,
One of the remarkable speakers
of the said event was Ms. April Cuenca, the CEO and Founder of FlipTrip, an
online travel planning and booking site for off the beaten path destinations.
FlipTrip was recently awarded as among the 10 winning tech startups of the
IdeaSpace 2014 Competition and was personally handpicked by Manny V. Pangilinan
and his Board of Directors from First Pacific Co. Ltd.*
Now, why am I talking about
this talk about FlipTrip? Simple. Because like what I’ve said beforehand, as a
young student, writer and traveller, it is important for me to experience and
visit off the beaten path destinations to learn fresh information to write
about. FlipTrip’s mission, as discussed by Ms. Cuenca, is to address the lack
of ease and accessibility in trip planning and booking, thus improving the
Philippine travel experience for every explorer and adventurer.* See? FlipTrip
really suits my dreams!
Ms. Cuenca also shared her
company’s advocacy to help small businesses in local communities grow by
stimulating economic development through tourism, providing locals
opportunities to build better infrastructure and facilities within their
province.*
In connection to this, since I
am considered as the future market and one of the possible traveller that may
need their service, Ms. Cuenca also showed how FlipTrip will help its customers
to have a hassle free travel planning and booking. Their overall service
includes the transportation, whether you’d prefer to take your own car, a
private vehicle or a random bus ride, your options will be there and ready.
They also provide activities and tours. With so much to explore and see, the
only way to truly experience any culture of a place is to be guided by a local,
that’s why they offer tours from the point of view of the locals themselves.
Accommodation is also available in FlipTrip. There are all sorts of
accommodation options for different kinds of travellers. From the amazing
5-star hotels and resorts, to chilled-out hostels and inns, where you can find
locals with best stories of the place. And lastly, the itinerary. FlipTrip
keeps all of your chosen plans mapped out.*
Ms. April Cuenca ended her
talk by giving out advices and motivations for young students like me to be
brave enough to follow our dreams and to not be afraid to take the path less
taken because this is where we will be more likely to find the right track that
will lead to where we want to be – our dream destination.
*details extracted from
FlipTrip’s flyer
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