DOT dropping ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’

MANILA, Philippines - To make it more in tune with the government’s campaign for change in the country, the Department of Tourism will come up with a new slogan next year to replace the current theme, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said yesterday her office is now working with several advertising companies to conceptualize the new catchphrase that should have something to do with President Duterte’s “change” theme.

The government has been using the slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” since it was introduced in 2012.

Teo said the new catchphrase would most likely be launched in mid-2017 and not immediately after the country hosts the Miss Universe pageant in January.

“We have a new Philippines. So, the slogan will focus more on ‘change’,” she added.

On the need to change the slogan, Teo emphasized that it has to be more attuned to the current administration’s promise of change by ridding the government of corruption, eradicating the drug problem, maintaining peace and order and other programs.

Advertising companies, she added, were asked to submit their ideas and concepts.

Asked if the anti-illegal drugs war of the Duterte administration would also affect tourist arrivals in the country, Teo said it would not impact greatly.

“The European ambassadors also raised that concern. If they (foreign tourists) are not committing any crime, why should they be afraid to come to the Philippines?” Teo stressed in yesterday’s press briefing in Malacañang.

She said tourist arrivals in the country, as of July, have reached about three million.

Her office targets six million tourist arrivals by yearend and 12 million by 2022.

“We must shoot for the stars and maintain an upward trend in terms of visitor arrivals and revenues for the benefit of all stakeholders,” Teo added.

International tourist arrivals in the country generated P127.37 billion as of June 2016, a 14.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2015.

For June alone, the number of Koreans visitors reached 686,118 while 454,170 came from the US.

Visitors from China reached 340,958 while those from Japan numbered 260,656.