They nourish the soul in an unexpected, almost meditative manner, reminding us that despite the sordid times we live in, there is still so much in the world that is wondrous, and beautiful, and pure. The man behind this Instagram account with 12.4 million followers and counting, not to mention a YouTube channel with 216,012 subscribers, and a thriving creative agency—all under the banner of Beautiful Destinations, is Jeremy Jauncey, a 34-year-old entrepreneur. Born in Scotland, he played pro-rugby in New Zealand and now travels the world, creating and growing a social media-driven travel community with a branding and content platform.

Beautiful Destinations, he explains, started “as an Instagram account focused on sharing inspiring travel content from around the world and connecting with talented creators with stories to tell.” He adds, “I believe so passionately that travel is a force for good in the world—a universal language that connects people regardless of age, income, or background. Now, more than ever, we need things in life that can bring us together and in celebration of different cultures.” Jauncey is a frequent traveller to the Philippines and, like many before him, has fallen captive to the charms of the country. His enthusiasm is evident and encompasses more than just the beautiful scenery for which the Philippines is famous. “It’s no secret how much I love the place and its people; they are the reason I keep coming back,” he says, “to show the world how much is happening in the country is very important to me.

The tourism offering is so broad, but so much of it is still unknown to many people. If I can play any role in encouraging more people to come and visit, I’d be very proud. [Department of Tourism] Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is also an inspiring leader and I know, under her guidance, the industry will grow stronger.” With all the extensive travelling he’s done, it comes as a surprise that there are still corners of the world he has yet to discover, such as Antarctica. “It’s the one continent I’ve never been to but at the fast rate our climate is changing, it’s a region I should visit sooner rather than later.

I’m a Global Ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund and a passionate supporter of sustainable tourism and the environment in general, so anywhere I can go to help raise awareness of climate-related issues is a place worth visiting.” While discovering new destinations, as well as revisiting favourite countries, Jauncey has also picked up a few useful travel tips along the way. There are the usual challenges in new places, such as the language barrier, for instance. Apart from English, he admits to speaking “okay” Spanish, but says that “all over the world, a smile and positive outlook is all I’ve needed to get by. If you are respectful and kind to people when you travel, you’ll get the same back and the language barrier doesn’t matter.”

As for preparing for trips, one could say he practises what he preaches. In the same way that social media is the way he communicates with his followers, so, too, does he utilise it for his own travels. “I actually plan a lot of my trips through Instagram: using my favourite accounts to get inspiration, but also searching the hashtags and geotags to find the best spots.

I also reach out to people through social media to ask advice from locals and ensure I know as much as I can before I arrive.” And the best way to feel at ease in a new destination? “Planning ahead and having a connection with locals is a good start. The great part about breaking the language barrier [if applicable] with a smile and a positive outlook is that neither of those things cost any money, so you’re able to spend more when you get to your destination. This helps the local economy and is something I’m very passionate about.”

As for the future? Jauncey is still discovering new worlds. Beautiful Destinations has evolved from an Instagram account into a unique content-driven and social media-powered platform that encompasses nation branding. “Our nation branding business continues to grow quickly as we work with more countries and cities around the world, helping them with strategy and creative content. At the start of the year we launched our entertainment push, creating Beautiful Destinations Original productions telling our own stories of the world for the larger streaming platforms. Lots more exciting things are in the pipeline and I am hoping for more partnerships in the Philippines!”

To know more about Beautiful Destinations, you may visit their official account here: @beautifuldestinations. To read more about Jeremy Jauncey's take on sustainable travel, click here: Is Sustainability Just A Buzzword?