Network of Independent Travel Agencies (Nitas) members have signified their continued support for the Bangon Tours program of the Department of Tourism (DOT), saying it will help boost tourism particularly in calamity-stricken areas.
"Bangon Tours is an effective marketing program to lure tourists to come back to the Philippines, despite an earthquake and typhoon Yolanda last year," Robert Lim Joseph, founder and president of Nitas, said.
He said it’s high time that all tourism players worked together to recover from the losses incurred by the tourism sector during the calamities.
According to the Tourism Board Promotions (TBP) of the Philippines, the Bangon Tours Project supports the government’s recovery and rebuilding efforts for the survivors.
Tourism establishments and travel companies have signified their support for Bangon Tours by signing theMemorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of theDepartment of Tourism.
Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) is the latest to sign up by implementing the Bangon Tour Seat Sale with travel period until April 2014. CEB also promotes these tours through communication materials provided by TPB in all its organic ticket offices and partner GSAs and WH in the Philippines. CEB has likewise extended humanitarian flights for stranded passengers in Tacloban and undertaken rehabilitation efforts to aid victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
According to Domingo Ramon Enerio III, TPB’s Chief Operating Officer, The Manila Hotel, Diamond Hotel Philippines and EDSA Shangri-La Hotel lead the industry’s hospitality sector supporters nationwide. Members of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) are also participating in Bangon Tours. These establishments prominently display the Bangon Tours poster with logo in their business premises and submit to the TPB updates related to the total amount donated to NGOs and foundations concerned.
Other private companies, Agoda.com, one of the fastest-growing online hotel platforms worldwide, as well as government agencies like Duty-Free Philippines and local government units such as the Provincial Government of Capiz have signified their support.
“While the affected tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas are being rebuilt, we invite everyone to travel more to the other 16 regions of the Philippines, visit as many of our fun destinations as possible and at the same contribute your share in our country’s recovery and rebuilding efforts through Bangon Tours. You also help increase domestic tourism, generate more livelihood for our fellow Filipinos, and draw us near the attainment of our target goal of 45 million domestic travellers for 2014,” says COO Enerio.
The Bangon Tours Project is an initiative of the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. This project is in line with the government’s recovery and rebuilding efforts for the victims and survivors of calamities through the promotion of domestic tourism. It is an invitation to the Filipino market to travel within the Philippines during the holiday period (December to February), visit our fun destinations, and participate in rebuilding efforts.
Initially, 16 areas are to be featured for Bangon Tours, as proposed by PTAA and PHILTOA: Ilocos, Tuguegarao, Baguio, Batangas-Puerto Galera, Manila-Tagaytay, Puerto Princesa, Baler, Bicol, Cebu, Davao, Bohol, Iloilo, Boracay, Siargao, CDO-Camiguin, and Batanes. However, Bangon Tour offerings will not be limited to these destinations.
Moreover, the project is geared towards encouraging the private sector to voluntarily share a percentage of their net income from the Bangon Tours to their chosen local foundation / NGO or any of the following charitable institutions—Gawad Kalinga, Philippine Red Cross, UNICEF and World Vision.
As much as practical, participating tourism establishments and companies will be featured in DOT/TPB’s website, social network accounts, online portals, print ads and other marketing communications.
According to the Tourism Board Promotions (TBP) of the Philippines, the Bangon Tours Project supports the government’s recovery and rebuilding efforts for the survivors.
The marketing arm of the DOT said it is an invitation to the Filipino market to travel within the Philippines during the holiday period from December to February, visit fun destinations and participate in rebuilding efforts.
Cebu and Bohol were among the 16 areas initially identified to be featured for Bangon Tours, as proposed by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and Philippine Tours Association (Philtoa).
With the tagline “Bakasyon Mo, May Meaning,” the Bangon Tours runs from December 1, 2013 until February 28, 2014 with the offering of specially designed domestic tour packages in collaboration with the Philippine tourism industry’s travel trade as well as non-tourism companies and public sector agencies.
“Participating tourist establishments are initially offering special tour packages to 16 tourist destinations nationwide and more destinations will be added. These establishments are being asked to share at least five per cent of their net income from the tour packages / room nights sold via Bangon Tours. The percentage share will be directly given to the company’s chosen non-government organization (NGO) or charitable foundation involved with the disaster-affected communities.”
The DOT, through the TPB, promotes and publicizes Bangon Tours – its featured destinations, products, packages and participating establishments – in communications materials including its official websites and other social media, traditional media, and through interpersonal communication activities.
For details, please contact Ms. Lia L. Fernando of the TPB’s Bangon Tours Secretariat at telephones: 525-0372 / 525-9318 to 27 local 202 or through fax 521-6165 / 525-3314 and e-mail: bangontours@tpb.gov.ph.
