Michelle Gumabao
MARAMING pagkakataon nang kumatawan sa Pilipinas si Michele Gumabao, maging sa entabaldo man bilang isang kandidata sa pageant, o sa court bilang pambansang atleta. Ngunit ngayon, sa kalsada niya ibinandera ang bansa, at nakasakay pa siya sa motorsiklo.
“Recently, I went to Germany for a motorcycle event. So I traveled through Germany, through Italy, Austria, and Czech Republic riding a motorcycle. One hundred twenty Filipino riders flew from the Philippines to Germany just to see it, to experience this huge annual event,” sinabi niya nang magsalita siya sa panel na “The power of technology in boosting digital tourism and its significant impact on the economy” sa Sigma Asia 2023 Summit sa SMX Convention Center sa Pasay City noong Hulyo 21.
“Thousands of riders from all over the world came to Germany to experience it, to be part of this event. And every single year they had to move because there was a rise in the annual participants going every year. And so sports can really create a big impact for tourism,” ibinahagi ng sports and youth advocate at social media influencer.
Bago siya kinoronahang Binibining Pilipinas Globe noong 2018 at kumatawan sa bansa sa Miss Globe pageant, nakabilang na si Gumabao sa Philippine national women’s volleyball team na sumabak sa iba’t ibang pandaigdigang torneo at palaro. At tinalakay niya ang kaugnayan ng sports at turismo.
“I think both go hand in hand because it’s very tangible. Sports is a big driving force for tourism because anywhere you go people love to watch sports, whatever sports it is, and not just bigger countries playing. They are your heroes,” aniya.
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Sinabi ni Gumabao na nangingibang-bansa ang mga tao dahil sa sports, hindi upang lumahok, kundi upang manood. “We have the Olympics, Formula One. I will travel to Japan in September to watch. So it can create an interest to see it live because you’ve watched it online or you’ve watched it on television,” ipinaliwanag niya.
“Sometimes, the whole country will go and travel. Like when Manny Pacquiao has international competitions, so many Filipinos travel abroad, just to watch and witness it,” pagpapatuloy ni Gumabao.
Sinabi ng beauty queen-athlete na naniniwala siyang mapakikinabangan din ng Pilipinas ang sports sa pagsusulong ng turismo katulad ng ginagawa na ng ibang mga bansa, “if it is managed, if we have the facilities, if we have the security, if we can host international events.”
Tinukoy ni Gumabao ang pinakahuling pagho-host ng bansa sa Volleyball Nations League (VNL) bilang halimbawa. “Everybody really went out and watched, and all the other countries, when they come to the Philippines and they see how Filipinos support these athletes, they want to keep coming back. And it’s a great testament also to our hospitality, and how passionate Filipino fans are,” ibinahagi niya.
Sinabi niyang kung makapagho-host muli ang bansa ng iba pang mga pandaigdigang palaro katulad ng VNL, tiyak na maitutulak ng turismo ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas.
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