November 21, 2010
This proves my earlier apprehension regarding the appointment of Alberto Lim as Tourism Secretary of the Philippines. Come on. Pilipinas Kay Ganda? What's that? A joke? Consider these: China, chung tsiang tseng! Japan, totemo utsukushi!
The short-lived Philippine Tourism Brand. Now dead! Thanks to Pinoys' vigilance.
While the Philippines' neighbors attract foreign tourists ranging from 10 million to 23 million annually, the Southeast Asian archipelago of 7,107 islands only gets 3 million. Indeed, needless to say, the potential is huge.
The Philippines is a fast growing emerging economy. Tourism without a doubt can become one of its growth drivers if given enough attention and if the Tourism Department gets the right people for the job. Malaysia wants to target all tourists from backpackers to high end honeymooners. Lim however said he only wants wealthy tourists, stating that backpackers do not spend a lot and "they only leave waste." This is not only an insult to the backpacker community, but a comment revealing the source's ignorance and lack of vision. Furthermore, he only wants 6 million tourists by 2016. That's his highest ambition as DOT Secretary. Korea, with its Korea Sparkling brand, gets that number of tourist arrivals every year... even if they don't have Boracay, Palawan and the thousand other tropical white sand beaches that the Philippines has. He does not want to follow the Thai model. What model then? Pilipinas, kay Ganda? LOL.
Add to that ignorant branding effort of Secretary Lim is the fact that the URL of the Pilipinas Kay Ganda site is very similar to a porn site!!! In fact now, when you visit http://www.beautifulpilipinas.com, you would be redirected to a porn site perfect for those who lusts for Filipinas! How shameful?!
Anyhow, I am glad President Aquino dropped the campaign brand just days after its launch. They spent money for that launch by the way which only ended up in the trash bin. Lim should be ashamed. Aquino should not only drop the slogan but the Tourism Secretary as well for his lack of competence, strong vision and common sense. He might not be corrupt, but he just wasted money!
I share the sentiments of many Pinoys. I also can't understand why the current leadership of the Department of Tourism "wants to get rid of a brand our country has worked so hard to build and invested so much money on." I still remember watching the Wow Philippines: More than the Usual advertisements on CNN. Indeed, branding done with class and competence. Thanks to then Secretary Richard Gordon.
I share the sentiments of many Pinoys. I also can't understand why the current leadership of the Department of Tourism "wants to get rid of a brand our country has worked so hard to build and invested so much money on." I still remember watching the Wow Philippines: More than the Usual advertisements on CNN. Indeed, branding done with class and competence. Thanks to then Secretary Richard Gordon.
4 Reactions:
The videos are great! I like the "HOME" video... The Philippines indeed is a beautiful country... don't worry... your country will get there soon. 5 years from now I bet, economic miracle shall happen.
As a Tourism and Foreign Service student I felt very upset about this issue in the DOT especially about the website they already knew that the site will lead people to a porn site why they're not doing anything about it, and another issue just came out that the logo was copied from Poland..I agree with you Jepoi, they (DOT)don't even have a vision for what they want our country to be like, what a shame, how stupid. I felt like wanted to tap Mr.Lim and the whole force of DOT and scream to the mountain top.. HEY WE HAVE A NATION TO BUILD!!!HELLO!!!
Did u have a chance to visit the tunnels?
Heard they could shift a division (8000 to 10000 soldiers) in hours !
They are crafting a brand new tourism campaign now... how ever I do not like it that thay're too slow... we have a BIG TOURISM MARKET to tap out there and we are losing tourists in favor of Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
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