THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas College of Tourism and Hospitality Management bagged awards in the recently concluded youth for tourism conference.

BS Tourism Management students Isabel Angela dela Dingco, Henrietta SJ. Mariano, Kimberly Mae Simangan, Antonio Tiong III, and Ma. Vanessa Anne Valencia won the Destination Marketing Plan Competition by defeating 12 other teams.

With the theme ‘The Youth for Tourism Conference 2020: Advancing Tourism Growth in the Time of Pandemic’, the conference was hosted by University of the Philippines-Asian Institute of Tourism.

The UST-CTHM team was assigned to create a comprehensive and relevant marketing plan for Nueva Vizcaya to help the province revive its tourism industry that was badly affected by the Covid19 pandemic.

Through extensive research and study, the team focused on Farm Tourism as its marketing plan after seeing it as an opportunity for Nueva Vizcaya.

The team was given notice last October 30 about it being chosen as one of the three finalists in the contest.

After the nationwide elimination round, the team prepared for a video presentation and engaged in a live question and answer session last November 21, before being declared as champions.

The team was coached by assistant professor Christine Concepcion Fajardo, Arnulfo Ricardo Butiong, and Wyett White Lee.

Meanwhile, Mariztel Nicole Adan, Mary Maureen Cucio, and Al Reile Dela Torre emerged second runner-up in the Travel Brochure Making Competition with the province of Catanduanes as their subject.