New texting service boosts tourism drive

Traveling around the Philippines has now become easier with a new text service that promises accurate information via simple text messaging.

The process is simple: mobile phone users who want to avail themselves of the service just need to type "WOW<space><type of attraction or facility><space> in <space><location>" and send to 288 for Smart and Talk N’ Text users or 2958 for Globe users.

For example, users can send "wow birdwatching in Batanes" and receive information on where birdwatching can best be conducted in Batanes and what other tourist activities can be done there.

A consortium of information technology firms has developed this travel information service via Short Messaging Service (SMS) or text messaging.

In an agreement, MIC Holdings Corp., CyberSoft Geoinformatics Inc. (CIGI), Asian Navigation Tracking System (ANTS) and Knowledge Systems Development Inc. (KSDI) have come up with the WOW Philippines Finder, a service that offers accurate and complete information on tourism facilities, services and attractions in the country through text messaging.

"The product is designed to empower tourists – Filipinos and foreigners alike – to travel to any of the country’s 7,100 destinations with the convenience of information that can be provided via simple text messaging," MIC Holdings president and chief executive officer Philip Juico said.

The product has already received the endorsement of the Department of Tourism (DOT). WOW, the tag coined by Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon for the Philippines, stands for "World of Wonders."

"WOW Philippines Finder makes traveling around the Philippines much simpler. We believe this is a big step in boosting Philippine tourism," Juico said.

Philippine tourism continues to post steady growth despite external factors that have weighed down on the international travel market as a whole. Last January, the DOT launched the Visit Philippines Year 2003 program.

Official records from the DOT’s Office of Tourism Development Planning predicted that tourist arrivals would continue to post growth following impressive arrivals last year.

This year, arrivals are up 7.3 percent in the first quarter, from 352,772 last year to 378,516 this year.

Arrivals were up 14.9 percent last December, 22.7 percent last November, 36.3 percent last October and 15.2 percent last September.

More importantly, Juico said WOW Philippines Finder provides local tourists with accurate information on destinations, attractions and facilities in different localities all over the country.