DOT, Globe partner to boost tourist arrivals to PH

MANILA, Philippines – Globe Telecom, Incorporated has partnered with the promotions and marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT) for a campaign that will help the Philippines achieve its 2015 target of 5.5 million foreign tourist arrivals.

This, in turn, will help Globe entice foreign tourists to avail of its products and services.

Being the first Philippine telecommunications partner of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Globe said this will enable the company to offer its services to millions of tourists and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning to the country.

“We’re on track of our target international tourists of 5.5 million for the 2015. The partnership will help us encourage more foreigners to visit the country by posting photos and sharing experiences through social media,” TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Visit the Philippines 2015 campaign.

Should the Philippines’ DOT achieve its 2015 target, “this will jumpstart our target of 10 million foreign tourists by 2016,” Enerio said.

Higher tourist arrivals

Citing latest data from the DOT, Enerio said the Philippines registered about 2.23 million international visitors from January to May 2015 alone, 8.15% higher from the previous year.

He added that the “average length of stay of a tourist is 10 nights and has an average daily expenditure of around P4,500 ($98.87), bringing total earnings generated from tourism activities to P94 billion ($2.06 billion) for the first 5 months of 2015.”

Enerio said  top 10 visitor countries in the Philippines are the following:

1. South Korea
2. US
3. Japan
4. China
5. Australia
6. Singapore
7. Canada
8. Taiwan
9. United Kingdom
10. Malaysia

To attract this steady growth of international tourists, Globe collaborated with the TPB to drive its Visit the Philippines Year 2015 campaign by offering its Globe Traveler SIM free of charge.

The Globe Traveler is a local prepaid SIM card that offers local rates for calls, texts, and mobile data services. (READ: 15 reasons to visit the Philippines in 2015)

Users can also receive calls and texts from abroad for free and cut costs on mobile data by subscribing to TravelSurf, which allows them to surf the Internet on mobile for an affordable rate of $11 for 7 days or $23 for 30 days.

Tourists, according to Globe, can claim the free Globe Traveler SIM by presenting their non-Philippine passport, foreign resident card, Seaman’s book, or OFW e-card at any of the Globe booths located at all Philippine airports starting July 30.

“Offering free SIMs is our way of helping travelers further enjoy their stay by enabling easy, affordable, and hassle-free communications,” Globe senior vice president for international business Rizza Maniego-Eala said. – Rappler.com

$1=P45.51