Tag: Department of Tourism

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Philippines has announced its digital magazine ‘7641’, in a bid to further promote the various destinations in the country and fast track tourism recovery, as well as provide readers travel inspiration and information about the tourist spots in the Philippines.

The digital magazine’s microsite’s name was inspired by the verified number of islands in the Philippines, which through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), had been verified through an ongoing islands inventory.

The ‘7641’ magazine supplies travel information through feature articles that provide detailed itineraries, suggested activities with accompanying reminders for a safe adventure, and interesting stories for each place.

As part of the magazine launch, the DOT invited feature and non-fiction writers, some of whom travelled to the destinations themselves, for more immersive writing. The DOT also collaborated with regional creatives, including SinoPinas and Playground Films of Zamboanga City, to document the sites and motivate people to travel through images and videos.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, said, “In 7641, we went in-depth into the stories of a destination, a cultural tradition, a dish, a personal affiliation to a place, while also providing the basic information you need as a traveller.”

She added, “We want to promote all tourist destinations in the archipelago that have already reopened to visitors. Each month, we will highlight different places so that the public can discover the marvellous sites that our 7,641 islands can offer.”

Manila, Philippines – As part of the country’s move for the eventual resumption of the tourism industry, the Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines has launched its Halal Culinary Heritage Series, a campaign that encourages dining discoveries for our Muslim counterparts, as well as highlights the country’s food traditions.

Launched in July 2021, the initiative showcases unique food finds in Mindanao through a video series posted on the Department’s social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

“Food is an important part of a tourism experience. It gives us a glimpse of a place’s culture and heritage. Through the development of our Halal Culinary Tourism, we are encouraging the discovery and familiarity with the culinary traditions of our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Philippines,” says Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat.

Said campaign is part of the Mindanao Halal Culinary Tourism, a project of the DOT with the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Aside from promoting the heritage of Mindanao and familiarity with its culture, the project also aims to document culinary practices of the area through food mapping. 

“With this initiative, there will be more knowledge and a better understanding of Filipino Halal cuisines and cooking traditions. The Philippines is creating new experiences and attractions in its different regions, so there is always more to explore,” the tourism department said in a press statement.

Through the campaign, tourists visiting Manila will be able to find restaurants and eateries that offer Halal-certified food, ranging from the stalls located at the area known as Muslim Town near the Golden Mosque in Quiapo that offer culinary delights such as ‘bakas’ or Bamboo-smoked tuna and a glutinous rice cake called ‘dodol’. 

The campaign also showcases El Prado dining outlet of the Berjaya Hotel Makati which offers dishes such as tinolang Manok (chicken in ginger broth with vegetables), a halal ‘nilagang baka’ (boiled beef with vegetables) and ‘sinigang na baka’ (beef simmered in a clear sour soup with vegetables).

The region of Mindanao offers a rich trove of halal Filipino items, ranging from dry curry ‘beef rendang’ or its fusion version as a ‘beef rendang penne’ at a restaurant called Torogan Kape in the city of Cagayan de Oro, ‘sinina kambing’ or goat meat stewed in spices and served with crab rice from Hashy’s Cuisine in Cotabato, ‘buntot (tail) ng tuna’ in curry sauce and ‘palapa’ (sweet and spicy Filipino condiment) by Tambilawan Kamayan Restaurant in General Santos City, to name a few.

The tourism department adds, “There are even more food discoveries to be found in the Philippines, with a culinary heritage that has been passed down from generations. While there are new dishes that have evolved from the basic recipes through the years, the flavors are just as rich and exciting.”

Manila, Philippines – As the lead creative partner of Philippines’ tourism department, creative agency BBDO Guerrero has long been spearheading the department’s campaigns, but this time, an upcoming collaboration between the two takes on a different view – a campaign that will see promoting Philippines’ tourism amid the new normal.

On Thursday, the agency revealed that it has bagged Tourism Promotions Board’s (TPB) account, an agency under the country’s Department of Tourism (DOT), to develop two promotional campaigns. 

The first one is the ‘Domestic Tourism Welcome Back’ which aims to encourage local tourists to visit Philippine destinations in order to help rebuild the economy, while the second assignment, dubbed as ‘The New Normal for Travelling’, is a campaign targeted at informing people of the travel safety protocols as they visit and explore the country.

BBDO Guerrero is most notably known for being the creative brains behind DOT’s highly acclaimed ‘More Fun In The Philippines’ campaign, which was first launched in 2012. The two upcoming projects with TPB will be complementing the said campaign. 

“BBDO Guerrero has played a significant part in Philippine tourism promotions ever since the DOT developed ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’. We are delighted to have them as partners as we invite the local touring public to help the tourism industry bounce back from the challenges of the pandemic,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Atty. Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones. 

In April, DOT and BBDO Guerrero launched a campaign called ‘Wake Up in the Philippines’

The assignments will cover a broad range of materials including videos, virtual tours, outdoor placements, and a variety of digital assets. In April last year, the agency has already helped DOT’s communications adapt to the new normal by releasing a series of films called ‘Wake Up in the Philippines’, aimed at making the country a top destination for foreign tourists as travel restrictions ease. 

BBDO Guerrero Creative Chairman David Guerrero shared, “It is an honor for us to be involved in the reopening of the country to local tourism. And we are excited to share this with everyone as we help our local tourism workers rebuild their livelihoods.”