Author and Social Entrepreneur Delivers Talk on Social Tourism

SAN FRANCISCO 15 August 2018 – Thomas Graham, TedX speaker and author of “The Genius of the Poor: An Englishman’s Life-changing Journey in the Philippines”, gave a talk on the Philippines as a social tourism destination at the Philippine Center’s Social Hall on 06 August 2018.

The talk was attended by members of the Filipino Community, and the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

In his remarks, Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto Jr. said that Graham’s visit came at an opportune time as social tourism may be a good avenue for Filipino-Americans, particularly the millennials and those in Gen Z, to reconnect with the Philippines, which is directly in line with the Spark*Connect*Empower movement.

The Consul General expressed hope that through social tourism, more Filipino-Americans would fall “madly in love” with the Philippines.

Mr. Graham is a journalist who has written for Newsweek and other magazines. In 2012, he visited the Philippines in what was supposed to be a short-term assignment.

Upon meeting Gawad Kalinga (GK) founder Tony Meloto, he became inspired by the work of and has stayed on in the Philippines as a social entrepreneur.

As founder of Make a Difference (MAD) Travel, Mr. Graham engages in social tourism, which aims to create transformative experiences for both travelers and the communities they visit. He has hosted around 1,500 tourists from all over the world who have participated in MAD Travel’s programs, which consisted of visits and interactions with GK communities, the GK Enchanted Farm in Bulacan, and Aeta communities in Zambales and Aurora.   

During his talk, Mr. Graham highlighted the benefits of social tourism including enabling people from all over the world to contribute to bringing about positive change. His guests have planted over 18,000 seedlings, which are projected to generate a 200 to 300 percent increase in income for the communities they visit.

Social tourism, according to Mr. Graham, also creates livelihood opportunities while protecting the sustainability of the area, as well as community improvements and a change in mindset (“from begging to creating”).  He added that 30 percent of MAD Travel’s profits go to GK.

He further noted that the Philippines has a distinct advantage as an English-speaking country in that locals can interact directly with visitors, leading to a more interactive and dynamic experience. END

For more information, visit www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/.