Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has named P-pop group SB19 as the country’s newest tourism ambassadors, tapping the internationally acclaimed act to help promote the Philippines’ culture and travel destinations to audiences worldwide.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said SB19’s global reach, particularly in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia, makes the group an ideal partner in encouraging more tourists to visit the Philippines.
“We’re seeing the same thing across ASEAN, where SB19’s fandom is just as strong, and where a short flight makes that pull even easier to act on,” Angara-Mathay said.
“Whether it’s a Filipino-American flying halfway across the world or a fan in Taiwan or Bangkok just a few hours away, SB19 is giving people real reasons to visit the Philippines. That’s the kind of reach we want to build on,” she added.
SB19 member Josh Cullen welcomed the partnership, saying the group hopes to make a genuine difference by sharing Filipino culture through its music and international performances.
“We want to make a genuine difference, so we’re teaming up with partners who get our vision. By taking our music to established international markets, we can connect with the global Filipino diaspora, share our culture, and give them that feeling of home,” Cullen said.
The announcement comes as SB19 gears up for a series of international milestones, including becoming the first Filipino act to perform at the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago on July 30.
The DOT said more tourism-related activities featuring the group will be announced in the coming months.
SB19 joins the nation’s girl group, BINI, which was earlier named by the DOT as one of the country’s tourism ambassadors as part of the agency’s efforts to promote the Philippines through globally recognized Filipino artists.
