‘Philippine Experience’ goes global: DOT’s curated tour packages now on Klook

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Experience Program (PEP), the curated tour packages by the Department of Tourism, is now closer to your fingertips.

This was after the DOT and Klook, one of Asia’s leading platform for experiences and travel, formally signed their strategic partnership last January 15 to further PEP and promote the digitalization of the local tourism industry.

The DOT and Klook’s collaboration was formalized in a ceremonial signing of the Strategic Alliance and Memorandum Agreement. This was led by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Klook president and co-founder Eric Gnock Fah and witnessed by Tourism Assistant Secretary Sharlene Zabala-Batin and Klook General Manager for Philippines and Thailand Michelle Ho.

Frasco said that with this partnership, the tourist destinations of the country will have an opportunity to be known globally as the pioneering roster of PEP tours will now be carried on the Klook platform and can be booked online.

Among the pioneering set of curated tours which were made accessible on the platform is a Culture, Heritage & Arts Tour in Calabarzon, where travelers will discover the captivating Pagsanjan Falls, and cultural landmarks like the connective Pinto Art Museum and the historical Villa Escudero.

There is also a Culture, Heritage & Adventure Tour in Bicol, where one can enjoy an ATV adventure to Mayon Volcano and sample the delicious Bicolano cuisine, highlighting the wonders found south of the capital in Luzon.

Up north, PEP also has a Culture, Heritage & Arts Tour in the Ilocos Region offering a view of the breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage City to discover the Philippines’ Spanish colonial history. During the tour, participants will also get the chance to interact with locals and savor local specialties like empanadas and tupig.

In Visayas, on the other hand, tourists can visit Silay City, known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture and heritage houses, as well as its fresh and delectable seafood through the Culture, Heritage & Arts Tour in Western Visayas.

Finally, tourists can explore an exclusive experience featuring the sights, history, and traditions of Palawan in the Culture, Heritage & Arts Tour in Palawan, through the Palawan Special Battalion WW-II Memorial Museum, Weaving Creation workshops, and the Butterfly Garden.

Frasco said the curated tours will later be expanded to include other tourist destinations of the Philippines.

In addition to the curated tours, the partnership also looks to integrate the DOT’s Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) on Klook and initiate exploratory partnerships with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Clark International Airport through the endorsement of the DOT.

The tourism chief said the DOT and Klook partnership is seen to boost economy and provide livelihood opportunities given the platform’s global reach.

Klook currently has more than half a million experiences on its platform, catering to over 2,700 destinations nationwide.

Frasco said the new endeavor will help travel agencies and tourism stakeholders, including tour operators who will now have a “digital way to sell their tourism packages.”

“The Philippine Experience Program is a flagship initiative of the Marcos administration, whereby, we are translating the President's vision of reintroducing the Philippines to the world, not just from a one-dimensional lens of fun and adventure, but also from the highly diversified lens of our Filipino identity that can very well be seen in in our culture, our heritage, our stories, immersions into our communities, our gastronomy, and all the other experiences that you can have in our destinations. Carrying the Philippine Experience Program on Klook will also equalize tourism opportunities among our destinations, which is the advocacy of the Department of Tourism,” Frasco said.

Gnock Fah likewise expressed excitement over their partnership with the DOT.

“At Klook, we believe there are countless adventures, unique experiences, and cultural treasures still waiting to be discovered. Here in the Philippines, with its stunning natural wonders and the warmth and vibrancy of its people, we are excited to partner with the Department ofTourism to bring even more of these incredible experiences to Filipinos and travelers around the world,” he said.

The global platform said it will also continue hosting a series of regional roadshows to encourage more travel operators to take advantage of its technology and have a global reach.

Klook first teamed up with DOT during the COVID-19 pandemic for training seminars on social media marketing and product development. It also previously rolled out of Intramuros Pass to give travelers exclusive access to attractions and activities inside the award-winning Walled City; and had a marketing collaboration with the Tourism Promotions Board on the “Love the Philippines” campaign.