REVENGE travelers continued to flock to the Philippines despite a recent fiasco on the country’s new tourism slogan, the president of a group of tour operators said yesterday.
The controversy surrounding the country’s new “Love The Philippines” tourism campaign had little to no effect on foreign tourists, who continue to come to the country after three years of lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Philippine Tour Operators’ Association (PHILTOA) president Fe Abling-Yu.
Abling-Yu said the country’s tour operators continue to be more “aggressive” in their approach of attracting tourists to the Philippines, as foreign tourists themselves were just as “aggressive” in spending money for travel.
“Palibhasa hindi po nakaalis ng tatlong taon, ay naging agresibo [sila]. Iyon po iyong tinatawag naming revenge tourism. Ang dami ring revenge spenders… Ang gusto po nila ngayon, more than [a] picture, is the experience,” she said.
She added that while the “Love the Philippines” slogan did somehow help them in their tourism efforts, PHILTOA “did not bank on the slogan that much.”
“Hindi naman po iyon nakasagabal sa aming agresibong pagsusulong ng turismo dito sa ating bansa. Hindi naman po iyon naging hadlang sa amin na gumagawa ng mga pakete para bisitahin ang Pilipinas lalo na ng ating mga dayuhan,” she said.
Abling-Yu also said that tour operators in the country were “business as usual” despite the tourism department’s slogan fiasco, especially that the their sector was still bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic.
“Kami ay business as usual, ang pagiging business as usual namin ngayon ay mas agresibo. Dahil kailangan po naming mapunan kung ano po iyong pinagdaanan namin sa loob ng halos tatlong taon,” she said.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) last month launched its new “Love The Philippines” branding to mixed reception, and later drew heavy flak after a video supporting the slogan used stock footage of sceneries from other countries.
The advertising agency behind the video, DDB Philippines, has since apologized for the blunder, resulting to the DOT terminating its contract with the firm.
Amid calls for a congressional probe on the gaffe, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said DOT Secretary Christina Frasco still enjoys his trust and confidence.
As of May 2023, there have been 2.38 million international arrivals to the Philippines, Abling-Yu said, citing DOT figures. (ABS-CBN News)
