Lately, I have found myself watching a lot of Youtube videos, particularly those featuring travel vloggers. For those of you who aren't familiar, a vlogger is someone who chronicles his/her activities periodically through compelling videos. Technology has made it possible for anyone to become a vlogger- from stay at home moms to couples who decide to quit their corporate jobs and travel the world.
Speaking of the latter, I have recently stumbled upon the Youtube channels of George and Lucy (from Brighton, United Kingdom, aka "Juicy Vlog") and Nelly and Mike (from Austria, aka the "Making it Happen Vlog"). These guys have become ridiculously popular in the Philippines lately. Their videos are like good burritos- humor/wit, information, and compelling narratives, all rolled into one.
Watching their material's gotten me thinking. The future of tourism lies in the hands of social media influencers.
While government officials are busy bickering among themselves, gearing up for the coming elections, and doing whatever else government officials do, influencers showcase the best the Philippines have to offer day after day.
Critics might say that the opinions expressed by influencers are filtered, and disingenuous. Filtered, yes. Disingenuous? Not necessarily so.
There are so many reasons to believe organic messaging shared by influencers. Their thoughts reflect the sentiments of the common person more than official, "curated" statements from state agencies and big corporations.
I love how people react so genuinely to influencers on social media. Forget the poser type influencers. I'm talking about those who stand for something significant, special, potentially life-changing. People on the street say hello to them, engage in lengthy conversations with them- even give them hugs when appropriate. In the Philippines, in particular, where people are bombarded with one packet of noise after another, the presence of the "right" type of influencer, is a breath of fresh air. Anytime you have the chance to go against the grain, to disrupt the "process" towards squeezing better performances out of people, and getting people inspired to "be more", you take it.
Of course, one has to still be discerning about what he/she hears, but hey, we live in a brave new world- teeming with the unbridled promise that innovation brings.
MC
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