To further enhance the travel experience of tourists in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) under the leadership of Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat launched in early 2019 a refreshed version of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. Along with this is the revamp of its old website to make it at par with global standards in so far as promoting the country’s tourism is concerned.
The new DOT https://philippines.travel website that has impressed many with its more inclusive, story-driven content and engaging design has recently won Gold under the Multimedia/Digital Tool, Website category of the prestigious 55th Anvil Awards organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.
Designed by DOT’s digital agency Tribal Worldwide Philippines, a unit of leading integrated marketing communication conglomerate DDB Group Philippines, the revamped website features the nation’s beautiful destinations, cultural heritage, fun activities, and unique products to make its 7,641 islands accessible especially to foreign travelers.
“We constantly aim to improve visitors’ experience in the Philippines. Our new website is one such initiative with its story driven execution and vibrant layout that are intended to drive tourists to the site and ultimately bring them to travel and explore the country. It embodies our refreshed ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ campaign,” said Secretary Romulo-Puyat.
The DOT website is very inclusive as it includes top, emerging and alternative destinations; and it also intends to link tourists to DOT-accredited tour operators and tourism establishments. It also has two microsites that feature sustainable tourism (https://philippines.travel/saveourspots), and also stories of how locals have benefited from tourism (https://thetourismdecade.philippines.travel).
The website has enjoyed a significant number of monthly visitors and page views since its launch, registering a 400 percent monthly growth in page users. This is seen to increase further with DOT’s on-going international roadshows. The site has had visitors from 117 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Canada, India, Malaysia, Sweden, and more.
DOT’s intensified marketing promotions, the new one-stop-shop website, as well as the growing recognition of the country’s sustainable tourism all paid off with the remarkable increase in the country’s visitor arrivals and tourism receipts as well as recognitions from major international award-giving bodies.
Notably, the Tourism department reported a 15.24% increase to 8.26 million tourist arrivals in 2019 versus 2018’s year-end figure of 7.16 million. This exceeded the government’s 8.2 million annual target with all months, except January, registering double digit growth rates.
