BlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook It’s More Fun in the Philippines: Will it stand up to its promise?

The Department of Tourism (DOT) recently announced its new slogan that will hopefully propel the country’s tourist influx. With the recent setback due to Typhoon Sendong which greatly affected some of major tourist destinations (Northern Mindanao and Western Visayas), this is a timely act of the Aquino administration.  Much has been said, both good and bad, about the catchphrase. Whether or not the slogan will directly help the tourism industry can hardly be measured, if it can really be measured at all. The biggest indicator of success will be the actual number of tourist arrivals with the government’s target of 4 million this year. Judging the slogan on its own, it will really attract tourists whatever their reasons of coming here. One can read between the words that there will be more than enough fun for everyone. The slogan is generic and can be applied in whatever circumstances and experiences; I am just hoping tourists will apply it in a more affirmative and cleaner way. The slogan premises that tourist already went to other destinations or should go to other place for them to compare the level of fun they experienced here. Having said this, it could also mean that tourists will be more fun-conscious which will put more pressure to fun- providers (e.g. destination, tour guide, etc). No matter what, FUN, after all, is the main reason why people went on tour. Here is my straightforward opinion though: the slogan will be a factor but is not the be-all and end-all of the tourism industry. Case in point WOW Philippines! Catchy but didn’t translate to higher-than-expected tourist arrival.  What must stakeholders should work for is to develop tourist-friendly and environmentally-sustainable tourist destinations. More tourist police should be trained, taxi drivers should be friendlier and travel destinations should be better protected and cared of. At the end of the day, tourists will be more than happy if they will have safe, memorable and picture-perfect travel in our country. Fun is secondary; the most important thing is that tourist will come home alive and safe for them to relive their MOST FUNNY EXPERIENCE here.(sunny)