DOT extends Bangon Tours program

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) is extending its Bangon Tours program until end-2014 to allow more time for participants to extend help to Super Typhoon Yolanda victims, a tourism official said.

“The extension will give those who are willing to participate in the program more time,” Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III said. The program was supposed to end this month.

Enerio said there are still a lot of tourism industry players signifying keen interest to join the Bangon Tours program.

“We should give them opportunities to help,” he said, noting that they have extended the coverage of the program not only to typhoon-stricken areas but also in other countryside areas where tourism development is badly needed.

“The partnership is getting stronger and we would want to give them an opportunity to proactively help the industry and our countrymen affected by these calamities,” he said.

Under the program, participating tourist establishments would initially offer special tour packages to 16 tourist destinations nationwide, with more destinations expected to be added soon. 

These establishments are asked to share at least five percent of their net income from the tour packages/room nights sold via Bangon Tours.

The percentage share will be directly given to the company’s chosen non-government organization (NGO) or charitable foundation involved with the disaster-affected communities.

Last month, TPB signed an agreement with Gokongwei-led Cebu Air (Cebu Pacific) for the launch of a Bangon Tours seat sale.

Under the MOU, Cebu Pacific will promote these tours through communication materials provided by TPB in all its organic ticket offices and partners in the Philippines.

Members of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) are also participating in Bangon Tours.

These establishments prominently display the Bangon Tours poster and logo in their business premises and submit to the TPB updates related to the total amount donated to NGOs and foundations concerned.  

Other private companies, government agencies like Duty-Free Philippines and local government units such as the provincial government of Capiz have signified support to the program.

“While the affected tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas are being rebuilt, we invite everyone to travel more to the many regions of the Philippines, visit as many of our fun destinations as possible and at the same contribute your share in our country’s recovery and rebuilding efforts through Bangon Tours,” Enerio said.

The DOT, through the TPB, has initiated the Bangon Tours as a direct contribution to the government’s recovery and rebuilding efforts for the victims and survivors of the recent natural calamities which devastated a few island provinces – some tourist destinations themselves - mostly in Eastern Visayas.