In celebration of the World Tourism Day (WTD) 2018 under the theme ‘Tourism and Digital Transformation,’ the Intramuros Administration (IA) and the Rajah Travel Corporation (RTC) agreed to work together in making more accessible to the public the numerous archival documents, manuscripts, and plans on Intramuros, as well as information on its tourist sites.

The collaboration between IA and RTC will likewise power the promotion of Fort Santiago, Plaza San Luis Complex (or Casa Manila), Baluarte de San Diego, and Museo de Intramuros, among others through the development of individual websites. The online portal will have information about the site, its amenities and activities, events, gallery, and planning a visit or use of any venue.

Rajah Travel Corporation will undertake the development of tourist site websites for Intramuros, including the provision of domain name, hosting and, administration; at no cost to Intramuros Administration. However, both IA and RTC will update the content and monitor the visitor traffic. In due time, the website will be turned over to the IA for maintenance once capacity is built. This arrangement is consistent with the provisions of RA 9593 or the Tourism Act wherein active partnership among public and private sector is urged towards the development and promotion of the tourism industry.

Administrator Guiller B. Asido of IA said that, “today, the digital tourists are becoming more sophisticated in their travel behavior, more discriminating in their choice of places to visit, and more discerning on action in the sites visited.”

“As site manager, the IA needs to be pro-active and must respond quickly by taking advantage of the internet and digital platform to showcase the various attractions and events in each of the tourist sites in Intramuros, while securing information to better understand the profile and characteristics of its tourists and develop appropriate products and services to suit their needs and preferences,” stressed by Administrator Asido.

The digital platform will also allow the IA to become more efficient in designing plans and programs to sustainably manage the tourist sites. Thus, avoiding overcrowding, dispersing tourists, and making known the other less visited sites in Intramuros.

The Memorandum of Agreement between the IA and RTC on the Tourism Knowledge Center (TKC), signed on 07 September 2018, will enable the various interest groups to view documents, materials, maps, plans, photos, videos, and news on Intramuros through the online portal of TKC.

More than Intramuros, the TKC portal will also feature compilation of research work and studies undertaken by members of the academe, students, and research institutions in the government and private organizations. The TKC seeks to support the information need of policy makers, program managers, investors, developers, tourism professionals, among others.

“The TKC is a part of the advocacy program of the RTC to trace lost pieces of history and showcase them,” according to Ms. Aileen C. Clemente who is the President and Chairman of Rajah Travel Corporation. The TKC envisioned to promoting data sharing of non-sensitive information, exchange of ideas, and knowledge management in today’s digital economy.

As a repository of information on travel and tourism in the Philippines, the TKC aims to engage the tourism stakeholders to collaborate in building a more sustainable and resilient tourism industry in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution.