Economic Issue

New tourism slogan: It's more fun in the Philippines




MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - "It's more fun in the Philippines."
This is the country's newest tourism slogan launched by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to members of the press on Friday, months after the agency faced criticism over its failed "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" campaign.
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said during the event that they "want the world not to watch but to participate" in the new campaign.
He said "It's more fun in the Philippines" will be rolled out in international markets while the shorter "#1 for fun Philippines" will be the slogan for the domestic market.
"We need a line that is easily understood. Competitive. 'More fun in the Philippines' is true. Keri natin ito (Kaya natin ito)," Jimenez said about the concept, which was developed by advertising agency BBDO Guerrero.
The DOT decided to hold off on branding and marketing strategies last year after the "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" campaign was scrapped due to a major industry outcry.
Before "Pilipinas Kay Ganda," the country had the more popular "WoW Philippines" catch phrase as its tourism slogan.
Meanwhile, DOT announced that it will offer 30-day visas starting this year to "keep up with the competition."
The agency previously allowed tourists to stay in the country for only 21 days.


Netizens join in the fun
So what is "more fun" to do in the Philippines?
DOT came up with the following examples on its newly launched campaign website: commuting, getting upstairs, and posting status updates, each featuring a scenic destination in the country.
It showed "commuting" as traveling by boat, "posting status updates" while underwater, and going up the "stairs," or the world renowned Banawe Rice Terraces in Ifugao.
"Wherever you go in the Philippines, it's the Filipinos that will make your holiday unforgettable. Just ask anyone who's been here. In fact, Lonely Planet guidebook calls us 'among the most easygoing and ebullient people anywhere,'" the website said.
"Find out for yourself why it's more fun in the Philippines. And make the most out of your vacation."
Several Filipinos turned to Twitter to give their own versions of the slogan.
"Christmas and New Year is more fun in the Philippines," one user wrote.
"Eating is more fun in the Philippines," another user added.
"Blogging is more fun in the Philippines," celebrity stylist Jenni Epperson tweeted.
On Friday morning, the hashtags #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines and #1forfun became top trending topics on Twitter worldwide.


__________________________________________________________________________________

I would always remember the times when my parents would lock the gate of our house.  My mother would always warn us not to go outside for people might do something bad to us. (Like what mom? Kidnapped us? Haha. We’re poor. They won’t even think of it) I would often watch children running, playing and enjoying the sun. Oh, I would often envy those children. They can experience going from this place, and walking to another and go everywhere they want to be.  ( as long as their parents knew. Or else! HAHAHA) But how about us? When will we see the inner beauty of the earth? When can we explore its natural beauty? When?

But yeah, later on my parents decided to let us go and enjoy our childhood days. (Maybe they’ve realized that no one would think of kidnapping us! HAHAHA) ..That sense of freedom made me a “traveler” on my own.

Since then, I had this goal to go different places. I would often read magazines featuring different places like Hongkong, Macau, China, Japan. I would also ask people their experience. I can sense that they did enjoy their travel. So I decided that maybe someday I could go to these places and experience the same thing they did.

But since we don’t have the capacity to go to that place today (for these things are not listed on our top priorities)… maybe I should just focus more on my own country. The Philippines.

Well, im not planning to explore the Philippines for maybe there’s nothing good about it. (sorry ‘bout that!) but something happened, we had this vacation once to Surigao del sur. We went to their popular tourist spot: “Enchanted River”. And yeah, I was super AMAZE about it. It was so clear that you could see what’s under it. Plus. It has beautiful islands nearby.

..and that’s the start of me fantasizing of going to the different places here in the Philippines.

When I heard about the new tourism slogan: It’s more fun in the Philippines, I was happy about it. imagine, they did use the word fun which is so true (by the way) and yeah, I’m pretty sure there would be plenty of tourist visiting us this year because they would be curious of the word: FUN. So they would go here and check for themselves if It is really fun. (which is again So true! HAHAHA) this would also improve our economic status. Wanna know Why?

·         Like what I’ve said there would be hundreds of tourist visiting us this year and they would sometimes stay here for longer. thus, this would help hotels, restaurants, malls and etc.

·         Since hotels, restaurants, malls, etc would be earning a lot of money. They would also pay their corresponding tax.

·         This tax would help all those people who need help financially. Like children who wants to go to school or sick people who needs medicine.

·         Some establishments need some workers so they would hire more. And this would decrease (somehow) the rate of employment.

·         And if tourist would enjoy their stay here in the Philippines, they would promote it to their other friends abroad.

Imagine that?

..if only we would also help the local government in improving this country, I knew someday we would be as rich as those countries out there.

I also hope that this slogan won’t face huge criticisms that would lead to failure (AGAIN!) and please enough of saying that we copied the Switzerland slogan in 1951. Maybe it’s not his intention (whoever made that slogan!) to copy or what, maybe he just come up to a conclusion that Fun is a great word to describe the Philippines. I can sense that he wants to convince all the people out there to try exploring the Philippines. And anyway, 1951 is far away to 2012. People might not even heard that slogan before. So please stop! Let’s just accept that it is more fun here in the Philippines.

I was happy also for they also want all of us to participate in promoting our country. Atleast, we would also be a part of something productive for this country. Since we are all updated on any social networking sites maybe we could post it on our facebook, twitter or tumblr. Lets start trending it!

..before I end this let me just tell you

Why it is more FUN here in The Philippines:
1. The Philippines are rich with different beautiful tourist spots that I'm sure you would like.
2. It is blessed with different traditions.
3. Filipinos are known for its kindness and friendliness.
4. If you're lost in a particular place, people would be kind to help you to the place you wanna go.
5. ..and pinays are maganda! HAHA