Globe gives away free SIM cards to tourists

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. has forged a partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) to help make the Philippines Asia’s top tourist destination.

Speaking at yesterday’s launch of the partnership, Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe senior vice president for international business, said the telecommunications firm would provide free SIM cards to foreign tourists as well as returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to support the TPB in the Visit the Philippines Year 2015 campaign.

The Globe Traveler SIM to be given out for free, is a prepaid SIM card offering local rates for calls, texts and mobile data services, which will give tourists and visitors a more convenient and affordable way to reach their contacts from around the world while in the Philippines.

Through the Globe Traveler SIM card, users can receive calls and texts abroad for free and cut costs on mobile data by subscribing to TravelSurf, which allows surfing the Internet at an affordable rate of $11 for seven days or $23 for 30 days.

For overseas calls, users will be charged at $0.40 per minute.

Tourists and OFWs can get the free Globe Traveler SIM by presenting their non-Philippine passport, foreign resident card, Seaman’s book or OFW E-card at any of Globe’s booths located at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as well as airports in Cebu, Davao, Kalibo, Iloilo and Clark starting today until December 31, of this year.

TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III said the partnership with Globe is expected to encourage more foreign tourists to travel around the country as the free SIM cards would enable users to share their experiences during their stay on social media.

“It’s kind of a social media exercise where we encourage our visitors to go around, take pictures and show to their friends. This is one way of really promoting this idea through SIM cards issued complementary by Globe,” he said.