DOT launches ‘Wake Up in PH’ video

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has released the “Wake Up In PH” promotional video targeted at retaining interest in the Philippines in the foreign market.

“Beyond the Philippines’ breathtaking beaches, you can discover a wide range of exhilarating adventures, relaxing getaways, and diverse cultures that can sate the wanderlust you must be feeling right now,” the DOT said.

“But until we can travel again, stay at home, dream, and #WakeUpInPH by planning your next dream vacation to our tropical nation: philippines.travel/wakeupinph,” it added.

The DOT emphasized that the promotional video was shot and produced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an earlier letter to the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association Philippines (HSMA), Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the DOT also intends to roll out new campaign materials to be placed on international networks to reignite interest of the market immediately upon the lifting of the community quarantine, with the DOT’s Branding and Marketing Communications Office allocating P400 million for this plan.

“Strategically timed and placed media ads intend to maintain recall of the Philippines as a top-of-mind tourism destination in preparation for the reopening of the country,” Bengzon said.

“The reopening of the Philippines to the foreign market shall aid in boosting tourism-related industries such as aviation and cruise connectivity, hospitality, tours, products and related industries both large scale and community-based,” he added.

Bengzon also said that the domestic promotions department of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), has previously approved a P5.4-million marketing plan to promote travel within the country and offset the economy’s growing decline in tourism revenue.

“The TPB has likewise prepared a summary of indicative measures for domestic tourism in response to the COVID-19 crisis, covering intensified digital media presence, consortium programs, regional travel fairs, and incentive consumer promotions, among others, and as soon as practicable,” he added.

Last week, editors of Travel+Leisure magazine listed the Philippines among the places they want to travel to after the coronavirus disease pandemic.

In its “17 Trips T+L Editors Can’t Wait to Take As Soon As We Can Travel Again,” the editors shared some of the places they would like to visit when it becomes safe to travel again.

“My friends and I originally had plans to visit the Philippines and Vietnam in May, but those plans, like so many others this year, have since been thwarted. I’ve traveled all over East Asia and Southeast Asia, but these two countries I’ve yet to check off my bucket list — and from what I hear, I’ve saved two of the best for last,” Travel+Leisure editorial producer Karen Chen said.

“It’s incredibly unfortunate that Asians have experienced racism around the world just because the first outbreaks of the virus occurred in Asia. In the end, it’s a global pandemic that has affected us all,” she added.

The things Chen looks forward to include visiting a tropical beach, and going to packed street food stalls and hole-in-the-wall restaurants, eating insanely good food elbow to elbow with strangers.

“I can’t wait to get a chance to go back and spend some tourism dollars in this incredibly vibrant, culturally rich part of the world,” Chen said.