(Santiago, 16 February 2024) The Philippine Embassy in Santiago and the Department of Tourism explored avenues for promoting Philippine tourism through strategic partnerships with influential platforms such as “Socios por el Mundo” (Partners Around the World).

Ambassador Balatbat welcomed the opportunity to showcase the beauty and cultural richness of the Philippines to the Chilean audience through “Socios por el Mundo,” Chile’s leading travel show focusing on the imperfect journey and adventures of widely popular Chilean personalities Jorge Zabaleta and Francisco Saavedra. She also highlighted the significance of forging partnerships to boost tourism flows to the Philippines and foster cultural exchange.

Since Chile is 5th in rank among Central and South American countries for tourist arrivals and 69th in the overall tourist arrivals in the Philippines for 2023, Director Tugbang acknowledged the great need for tourism promotion in South America, and how leveraging the reach and influence of Chilean travel shows like “Socios por el Mundo” can potentially attract more potential tourists to the Philippines.

Potential areas for tourism promotion—such as promoting the Philippines as an ESL destination, educational tourism, volunteerism, and activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Peru—were also discussed during the meeting.

The Philippine Embassy in Santiago and the Department of Tourism have agreed to flesh out the details of the possible support for Socios por el Mundo and to invite the Film Development Council of the Philippines to the online meeting with the show’s production team.

The Philippine Embassy was represented by the Philippine Ambassador to Chile Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, Minister and Consul General Jim Tito B. San Agustin, and Cultural and Community Relations Officer Kimiko R. Gata.

Representing the Department of Tourism were the Branding and Marketing Communications Assistant Secretary Gisella Romualdez-Quisumbing of the Office of Secretary, Office of Product and Market Development Director Paulo Benito Tugbang, DOT Central Visayas Chief Tourism Operations Officer Dr. Gelena Asis-Dimpas, and Tourism Operations Officer Johann Erik Martinez.

Socios por el Mundo is produced by the Chilean production company Producciones Mkzeta, which met with the Embassy on 18 October 2023 after the Philippines was shortlisted for the show’s third season to be shot in 2024. Given its high viewership in Chile, the show is reportedly negotiating to stream its episodes in Latin America through Amazon Prime and possibly Netflix.

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