AIMS Museo Maritimo Joins the 2025 Creative Tourism Conference

The Main Theme of the Event Summarized into a Hashtag.

September 5, 2025 - Pasay City, Metropolitan Theater Manila, Philippines

Article by AIMS Museo Maritimo Personnel

AIMS Museo Maritimo participated in the recently held Creative Tourism Conference 2025, conducted on September 3 and 4 at the Metropolitan Theater Manila. Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board and the Department of Tourism (DOT), the event gathered tourism and cultural institutions to explore how creativity and heritage can shape the future of Philippine tourism.

This aligns with the message of DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who emphasized the value of cultural experiences in building meaningful and sustainable tourism:

“Creativity is not an afterthought in Philippine tourism, it is our identity, our strength, and our promise to the world… When we put the spotlight on Filipino imagination... we preserve heritage and tell the story of a people whose culture is both timeless and dynamic.”

In response, AIMS Museo Maritimo reaffirmed its commitment to creative tourism by highlighting the evolving role of museums as experiential storytelling platforms—spaces where heritage is not only preserved but brought to life through engagement, participation, and connection.

A Presentation from Ms. Garlic Garcia.

Bridging the Digital and Physical

In recent years, AIMS Museo Maritimo has been developing its digital marketing and online presence as a way to expand its reach and relevance in the changing landscape of cultural engagement. Through curated social media content, online exhibits, virtual tours, and storytelling campaigns, the museum has been able to connect with broader and more diverse audiences—especially younger generations and overseas Filipinos.

These digital strategies are not meant to replace physical visits, but to complement and extend the museum experience. They serve as invitations for deeper engagement, bridging the gap between the digital world and the on-site, sensory experience of heritage.

For the museum, the goal is to create continuity between digital interaction and physical exploration—encouraging visitors to transition from online curiosity to in-person discovery. In doing so, the museum contributes to a model of tourism that is participatory, layered, and reflective of local narratives.

AIMS Museo Maritimo Personnel in the Photo Wall.

Museums as Cultural Interfaces

Through its participation in the Creative Tourism Conference, AIMS Museo Maritimo emphasized the idea that museums can serve as interfaces between past and present, and between local stories and global audiences. As experiential spaces, they allow both tourists and communities to encounter maritime heritage in ways that are tactile, visual, and dialogic.

In contributing to the national conversation on creative tourism, the museum commits to ongoing exploration of how culture can be made accessible, relevant, and sustaining—not just for visitors, but for the communities whose stories are being told.

As the tourism landscape evolves, AIMS Museo Maritimo continues to reflect on its role—not just as a keeper of artifacts, but as a dynamic platform for connection, where digital and physical experiences converge to create lasting impact.