Left to right: DOT-NCR Chief Tourism Operations Officer Tourism Development Division Catherine Agustin, DOT-NCR Project Officer Ernie Soria Teston, DOT-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Angkas Co-Founder and CEO George Royeca, Angkas Marketing Manager Tricia Guillermo, Angkas Head of Special Projects Marivic Genuino
MANILA, Philippines — Angkas, a Filipino company, is encouraging tourists and locals to explore the culturally rich and vibrant cities of Metro Manila on a Vespa motorcycle, just like “Emily in Paris.
In partnership with the Department of Tourism-National Capital Region (DOT-NCR), the leading motorcycle taxi-hailing app is pushing for a rolling tour to showcase the best local hotspots in the Metro with Angkas bikers as tour guides.
Angkas CEO George Royeca said motorcycle city tours would allow people to see, experience, and appreciate a city in a different light.
“We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. Touring on a motorcycle for me is very enriching. It’s like becoming one with your surroundings. You lose yourself in the sights and sounds. You get to feel the wind and smell the air. It’s one of those unforgettable experiences.”
Angkas riders and instructors are getting trained in the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) as part of the company’s ongoing dedication to enhancing the standard of its services.
Filipinos have a lot of innate skills that make them stand out in the hospitality industry, and the curriculum is meant to foster such skills.
“We’re building strong collaborations with our private and public stakeholders and making sure all these kinds of extensions and assistance are given to them,” said DOT-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala, adding that the partnership with Angkas is highly anticipated given how the transportation system is an essential component of tourism.
Angkas and DOT-NCR are looking at Intramuros, Binondo, Poblacion, and BGC as its pilot areas for the à la “Emily in Paris” motorcycle city tour.
The project will be launched with a few bikers to explore and examine how the process can be further developed to achieve maximum customer satisfaction. The DOT is also considering including the Angkas motorcycle city tour in its highly anticipated Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tours, given how many of our roads and streets are only accessible by motorcycles.
Angkas, a homegrown Filipino firm, has been known to help promote Filipino culture, traditions, and customs in its marketing strategies. According to Royeca, their thrust has always been to be a company for the Filipinos by the Filipinos. Royeca is hoping the partnership with the DOT would help promote local tourism through safe, fast, and reliable transportation.
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