PMT aims to promote Philippine tourism destinations while helping local tour operators and local businesses to bounce back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Picking up the pace amid the pandemic to regain the confidence of the public to travel again, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines will kickstart the Philippine Motorcycle Tourism (PMT) Program this November with a series of activities.

PMT aims to promote Philippine tourism destinations while helping local tour operators and local businesses to bounce back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by encouraging more motorcycle sports enthusiasts to engage in motor-sports tourism activities as a potential niche market.

“We are pushing our boundaries to come up with even more safe and creative ways to set the tourism industry and all those who depend on its path to recovery. PMT showcases interesting culture and heritage sites, shops, restaurants, and other tourism products all over the country that Filipinos can discover themselves on two wheels,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones.

To officially launch the program, TPB will hold a hybrid webinar on 19 November to entice the motorcycle riders’ communities and influencers to promote the Philippines as a fun and safe destination while advocating for road safety travel. TPB will invite experts and motorcycle enthusiasts to share their knowledge and hands-on experiences on Defensive Driving, Group Riding Etiquette and Safety Riding.

Also, part of the campaign is the staging of PMT Ride and Tours on 20 to 21 November to be participated by around 250 motorcycle enthusiasts which will kickstart at Rizal Park in Manila. TPB initiated this micro-ride in identified destinations in Luzon in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region IV-A (CALABARZON).

The riders will travel approximately 850-980 kilometres along a pre-identified route covering Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, and Cavite for two days as they explore several interesting pitstops and share with the public the beauty of the country on two wheels.

In line with this campaign, the PMT also supports riders’ events that are to be held in Central Luzon and Mindanao this year: the Motorbike Tour in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija on 21 to 22 October organized by DOT Region III in support of the PMT program; the Halal Foods Rediscovery Motorcycle Ride which will highlight the promotion of Halal food and establishments, and; the 10th Mindanao Freedom Ride on 05 to 12 November spearheaded by the Norminring Motorbikes.

“We are hopeful that through these activities, we will rebuild the confidence of the travelling public to travel domestically and, eventually, for the tourism industry to bounce back from the negative impact of the pandemic crisis,” Allones added.