Globe, DOT team up to promote Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign and local tourists visiting the country’s different tourist destinations can look forward to better telecommunications services.

To provide much better services in tourist destinations and other areas in the country, Globe Telecom yesterday announced that it is embarking on a multi-million dollar expansion project.

“We are embarking on about $700-million network expansion project in various areas nationwide,  particularly in top tourist destinations,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala, of  Globe International Business Group.

“It is very important for tourists to get easy access to their loved ones even when they’re on vacation or visiting tourist destinations in the country,” Eala added.

Yesterday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Globe forged an agreement to aggressively promote the “Its more fun in the Philippines,” campaign and lure more Filipino overseas to visit the Philippines.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Domingo Enerio III said the partnership between the DOT and Globe is expected to raise excitement among Filipino overseas as well as foreign travelers to come to the Philippine for a vacation, reunions or investments.

Enerio noted President Aquino has declared  2011 to 2016 as “Pinoy Homecoming Years” with the hope of luring most of the 11 million Filipinos overseas to visit the country.

“It was designed as an incentive-based promotional campaign wherein registered balikbayans can avail of various discounts from its many merchant partners,” Enerio explained.

The campaign, Enerio said, is also intended to encourage Filipinos abroad not only to visit the Philippines, but to stay longer or even retire and pour their investments here.

Meanwhile, the Intramuros Administration is also hoping more investors would come to help in the rehabilitation of the historical walled city and put up cafés and other business there.

He said the Global Heritage Fund is currently drafting a necessary plan for the implementation of various projects that would encourage foreign and local investors to pour in their money in the development of Intramuros.

Global Heritage Fund (GHF) director George Sycip said the walled city of Intramuros still a big potential for tourism growth.

“The tourism potential of Intramuros is quite large but is yet to be tapped yet. From half  a million tourists this could still grow up to two to three million,” Sycip disclosed.

Sycip said the plan that they are drafting would fit in with the already complete master development plan for Intramuros, which the IA has already started implementing.