DoT, Microsoft launch Windows 8 'More Fun' app for tourism

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Tourism (DoT) along with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) sealed on Friday their partnership with software company Microsoft Philippines to boost the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" tourism campaign.

The partnership paved the way for the launching of the "More Fun Series" application meant to enable Windows 8 users with information and features they need on the country's best local destinations through a series of local apps.

Windows 8 is the first platform to have apps on tourism. The new app is now available for download in the Windows Store.

In an interview with Philstar.com, DoT Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz said having the Windows 8 app is part of DoT's strategy in improving accessibility, connectivity and information as the department focuses in reaching its goal of having 10 million foreign arrivals and 50 million domestic travellers by 2016.

"The app assists us to disseminate info to certain travellers. For example those who want to learn more of what Iloilo has to offer, they can use the mobile app and have a glimpse of Iloilo," Corpuz said.

Besides providing more information about the country's tourist destinations, Corpuz said transportation must be available to all markets.

"The Philippine carriers are expanding their existing fleets. In our recent surveys with them, they have placed additional orders of  some 33 planes which are expected to be delivered throughout this year until March of 2014." Corpuz said. "And that is only the first phase of it. There will be additional orders as we go along."

Corpuz added DoT needs to diversify its product portfolio and not simply focus on promoting tourist destinations.

"There  are also offerings of certain destinations which the private sector has responded to  by building additional tourism facilities such as hotel rooms, resort rooms, conventional rooms that give travellers a lot of options as to where to spend their holidays," he said.

DoT in 2012 recorded 4.3 million foreign arrivals, an 11 percent increase over the previous year's.

So far in 2013 from January to March, Corpuz said there have  been some  two million tourists that visited the Philippines and expressed confidence to achieve the five million mark by yearend despite tensions over  the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman.

According to DoT's statistics, Taiwan brought in the 5th largest foreign visitors in the country of about 109,000 last year.

Yet still leading among foreign visitors are Koreans (1.1 million), Americans (650,000), and Japanese (480,000). Although Windows 8  was the subject of criticisms recently  in other countries, the DoT official said they are confident that the number of the software's users will improve.

The More Fun Series is a group of apps which aims to highlight the country’s 25 key tourist destinations including their interesting overview, exciting activities, famous sites and itinerary builder among other features.

The free apps feature commercial information coming from the official website of DoT including but not limited to accredited restaurants, spas and souvenir shops to complete the travel experience of every tourist.

Corpuz said DoT remains open to making marketing partnerships with other software firms and telecommunication companies, adding the possibility of developing  Android apps to reach more gadget users around the globe.