DOT Turns 43; Joins Snapchat

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday took its social-media presence to a higher level by joining image-messaging and multimedia mobile app Snapchat, in time for its 43rd anniversary.

DOT’s newly-created Snapchat username ‘tourismphl’ similar to its Twitter and Instagram usernames.

The department has already posted two snaps—one showing chefs slicing a Filipino-favorite dish, lechon (roasted pig) and another showing a vibrant rest-bar called Kanto Bar and Grill along Jupiter St., Makati.

This comes after the DOT partnered with award-winning creative technology agency Beautiful Destinations to capture destination images and videos that drive interest among its followers and inspire them to visit the country.

Beautiful Destinations is responsible for creating the largest travel and lifestyle portfolio on both Instagram and Snapchat that can reach more than 10 million followers around the world.

DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said that partnering with Beautiful Destinations is an effective way to make the Philippines’ presence in the digital space more felt by travelers who are highly reliant on social media.

He further said that the DOT would leverage this strength by utilizing social media in most of its campaigns on many occasions.

Data from the DOT showed that as of February 2016, tourist arrivals in the Philippines marked a double-digit growth of 20.42 percent to 549,725 visitors compared to the 456, 524 visitors in the same period last year.

The total number of inbound visitors recorded from January to February 2016 already reached 1,091,983, a 16.71 percent increase from the same period in 2015.

Top visitor market was still Korea with around 284,763 visitors followed by the United States with 155,796 visitors and China, with 130,916 visitors.

As for tourism receipts, the Philippines acquired Php27.49 billion earnings in February 2016, a 42.09 percent hike from Php 19.35 billion in the same period last year, DOT said.

This was attributed to the government’s efforts to raise greater awareness among the international community and unlock investments in the Philippines’ emerging economy.

Jimenez earlier said that the biggest change during the Aquino Administration is that Filipino people are now “more enthusiastic about tourism itself.” (PNA) RMA/ANP