The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched the More Fun Awaits campaign to
strengthen the Philippines’ positioning as a top-of-mind tourist destination in the global
market once international leisure travel to the country resumes.
More Fun Awaits showcases the preparations that the DOT has been carrying out
while tourism has been put on hold because of the pandemic. The campaign is focused
on communicating exciting destinations to visit, starting with those that have been ready
to welcome local tourists and have minimum health and safety protocols in place.
It also includes new tourism products and circuits that have been developed by the
DOT, in coordination with private sector tourism stakeholders and various local
government units (LGUs), based on travelers’ preferences in the new normal.
Aside from the sun and beach tourist destinations that the country is well-known for, the
campaign puts a spotlight on new and enhanced bike tours, dive circuits, farm, and food
tourism circuits, hiking and trekking, and outdoor museums through historical and cultural tours, among others. These cater to tourists’ new normal preference for outdoor
activities and well-ventilated areas.
The campaign is supported by www.morefunawaits.com, a newly launched website by
the DOT that 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 for tourism reopen,” said Tourism Secretary Berna
Romulo-Puyat.
It will also feature a crowd-sourced campaign 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. Posts
must include the hashtag #MoreFunAwaits and those selected will be shared in the
social media pages of the DOT.
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 on 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.
WTTC GLOBAL SUMMIT
The Tourism Secretary added that in communicating that the country has been
preparing to welcome international visitors, the More Fun Awaits campaign will 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.
SAFETY IS DOT’S PRIORITY
Puyat also explained that “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.
Meanwhile, the inoculation of tourism workers is ongoing in different parts of the
country, especially in major tourism areas, including the National Capital Region where
99% of tourism workers in DOT-accredited hotels and accommodation establishments,
as well as 94% of tourism workers in accredited restaurants have had their anti-COVID
jabs. Nationwide, 51% of tourism workers have already been vaccinated.
“We are optimistic that the More Fun Awaits campaign, and all our efforts since the
pandemic started, will be sustained as the tourism industry recovers under safe
conditions,” said Puyat.
For more updates about the More Fun Awaits campaign and the latest information and
travel advisories about the Philippines, visit www.morefunawaits.com.
