29 June 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT), held the 8th PEAK Pinoy webinar on 26 June 2022 featuring business opportunities in tourism for returning overseas Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers entitled "Balikbayani sa Turismo".

PEAK Pinoy, short for Promoting Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness for Overseas Filipinos in South Korea, is the Embassy's flagship project on reintegration of overseas Filipinos and OFWs which is jointly implemented by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center, the Philippine Agriculture Office, and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office - Overseas Workers Welfare Administration under the Embassy's one-country team approach. The webinar series has previously featured business opportunities in weaving, aquaculture, strawberry and mushroom production among others.

In her message, Ambassador Theresa Dizon - De Vega highlighted the importance of, and the Embassy's support for the early preparation and planning on reintegration of overseas Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Korea through PEAK Pinoy. "The Embassy welcomes the DOT's efforts in promoting tourism and helping our OFWs become industry partners as well as future entrepreneurs in the tourism sector. Tourism is one of the sectors where employment creation potential is huge, and OFWs in Korea have the distinct advantage of developing ideas and skills in tourism because of the robust tourism industry here", the Ambassador said. Citing her participation in the recent inaugural flight of Fly Gangwon Airlines from Yangyang International Airport to the new Clark International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga, she shared her optimism that tourism and related business will rebound fast with the easing of global travel restrictions.

The 8th PEAK Pinoy webinar presented to the online participants the various tourism skills training offered by the DOT's Office of Industry Manpower Development which OFWs and their families can avail of. It also provided the start-up requirements and tips in putting up tourism retail and farm-tourism business. Featured resource persons are former OFW-turned-entrepreneurs Mr. Francisco dela Cruz of Rockstar Retail and Engr. and Mrs. Kaicelle Atun of Desmond Farms, with Mr. Ryan Sebastian and special guest speaker Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno of the DOT.

The first run of Balikbayani sa Turismo in Korea was held in November 2020. The next PEAK Pinoy webinar will be held in 31 July 2022 featuring entrepreneurship and agribusiness opportunities in region 4A or Calabarzon. END