The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched a new campaign to strengthen the position of the Philippines as a top-of-mind tourist destination in the global scene once international leisure travel to the country resumes in the future.
The campaign titled “More Fun Awaits” showcases the preparations the tourism department has been doing during the pandemic when tourism remained in various degrees of closing and reopening. In particular, it wants to communicate exciting destinations to visit, starting with those that have been ready to welcome local tourists and have minimum health and safety protocols in place.
The campaign also highlights new tourism products and circuits that have been developed by the DOT, which it has been doing in coordination with tourism organizations and local government units (LGUs), based on travelers’ preferences in the new normal.
Bike tours, dive circuits, farm and food tourism circuits, hiking and trekking, and outdoor museums through historical and cultural tours are among the tourism activities highlighted by the campaign for the new normal, where tourists have a preference for outdoor activities and well-ventilated areas.
The DOT also launched a new website www.morefunawaits.com to support the new campaign. It contains videos of breathtaking sceneries around the country, travel articles, and infographics to entice tourists to consider the Philippines as their next travel destination in Asia once travel restrictions have been lifted.
“The More Fun Awaits campaign will sustain the presence of the Philippines as a tourist destination amidst the pandemic, while getting foreign travelers excited for what’s in-store for them once borders reopen,” said Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat.
Part of the campaign is a crowd-sourced initiative that invites Filipinos to become tour guides of their hometown, either by posting their own virtual tours on social media, or sharing their own photos of their recommended destinations, activities, or dishes.
At the heart of the campaign are stories about tourism workers and advocates who have contributed to the recovery of the industry, which can be found in the More Fun Awaits website and the DOT’s social media platforms. These stories emphasize the need to remind both local and foreign tourists that tourism is not just the act of travel, it is also about livelihood and supporting the lives affected by the pandemic.
“Travel is more than just a personal experience. The heart of tourism are the workers and the communities who make the experience possible,” said Puyat.
The More Fun Awaits campaign will also help boost the anticipation of the Philippines’ hosting of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit.
Through the campaign, the DOT can already share its ongoing efforts for current global concerns on health and safety, environmental sustainability, and local community engagement in tourist destinations—issues that are likely to be at the core of discussions at the Global Summit.
According to Puyat, “through the More Fun Awaits campaign, we want to communicate that the Philippines prioritizes the safety and well-being of visitors, as many of our tourism establishments are compliant with global safety standards, and a large percentage of our tourism workers are already vaccinated.”
As of September 14, 2021, the Department has issued the WTTC Safe Travel Stamp to three local tourism destinations—Baguio City, Boracay Island, and Ilocos Norte—and 200 DOT-accredited accommodation establishments nationwide. The WTTC Safe Travel Stamp is the world’s first safety and hygiene stamp for travelers to recognize governments and businesses that have adopted global health standardized protocols.
