Filipino hailed ‘most influential travel journalist’

Josh Mangila (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

A Filipino multimedia personality and former newspaper dealer is set to be awarded the “Most Influential Travel Journalist” by European Tourism Award in Malta on the first week of October.

Miss European Tourism Association president and CEO Paul Chetcut said Filipino Josh Mangila, editor in chief of “XPEDITION,” a luxury travel magazine targeted to the affluent society in the Middle East, will be recognized for his “utmost efforts to inspire people to travel, explore, and respect different cultures” through his writing.

Mangila, who hails from Cavite, will be the first Asian recipient of the award. He was featured in local and international publications last year for his stance against stereotypes and racism to Asian and Filipinos in the Middle East.

“I am happy that Filipinos are now getting noticed and recognized in the travel and tourism industry and I will surely continue my battle, even in my tiniest ways, to erase racism and stereotypes, not only in the Middle East or in Europe but in the entire world. We are all one, we are all the same,” Mangila said in a statement.

“Traveling should be our right and not our privilege; traveling can open minds and can unite us through a powerful verity that we are all citizen of the world and should be responsible for each other,” he added.

Mangila, who came to Dubai in 2007, has travelled to more than 40 countries and 65 cities. He started doing freelance work in different magazines in 2008.

In 2012, he was admitted to World Media Academy, the only media school in Dubai accredited by Washington-based International Centre For Journalist, through a scholarship and was awarded “Most Dedicated Journalist of the Year.”

The European Tourism Award, an event organized by Miss European Tourism Association, aims to “celebrate personalities in media, entertainment, sports, business, and fashion industry that help promote tourism in Europe.” YG