Solenn Heussaff tapped to promote Samar tourism sites

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, March 21  -- The provincial government of Samar is counting on the popularity of actress and social media influencer Solenn Heussaff to help promote the province’s natural wonders to tourists.

Heussaff, who have nearly five million followers in both her Instagram and Facebook accounts, is the first celebrity endorser of the Spark Samar tourism campaign since its launching in 2015.

Her athletic and sporty personality captivated the provincial government’s interest to tap her as model of less known destinations in Samar province, said Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan on Tuesday.

“We want somebody who can do adventure type of tourism. She’s the kind of actress who is athletic, who loves nature, and who is not fussy and can do extreme activities,” Tan said.

Before the provincial government tapped Heussaff as its celebrity endorser, the actress had already experienced what Samar Island offers to tourists during her visit to Biri Island in Northern Samar province.

She toured the Northern Samar’s picturesque rock formations last year to do the travel blog video for the digital ad of a giant telecommunications company.

The digital ad posted on Youtube and Facebook had more than three million views.

During Heussaff’s first visit to Samar province, she went to the town of Basey to explore the Sohoton Natural Bridge and Natural Park through caving and kayaking.

She also joined women mat weavers inside the Sa-ob Cave before heading to San Juan by the Bay in Sta. Rita town to dine at a floating restaurant overlooking the San Juanico Bridge.

She also visited the Lulugayan Falls in Calbiga town, dubbed as the Little Niagara of Samar, and experienced the nearly one kilometer trek to the waterfalls.

Her first visit ended through the Extreme Torpedo Boat Ride water adventure in Ulot River in Paranas town. Like other tourists, she also jumped at the river’s Deni Point.

She also visited Catbalogan City, the capital of Samar to taste some native delicacies and cuisines like Tamalos, a traditional dish in the capital made up of pork-belly and peanut butter wrapped in banana leaves.

Heussaff is bound to post her Samar adventures on her Instagram account at least twice a month to support the Spark Samar campaign.

With this, the provincial government hopes to lure more tourists to visit and experience what Samar province offers.

After the launching of Samar’s campaign, tourist arrival figures nearly doubled to 207,709 in 2016 from 118,018 in 2013. (RTA/PNA)