THE Philippine Department of Tourism is to launch a marketing campaign next year focusing on lesser-known areas of the country.
The Rediscovery Philippines campaign will start in March and highlight eight destinations, many of which have not featured previously on the tourist map.
The destinations are Baguio and Banaue, Manila, Palawan, Cebu, Laoag and Vigan, Boracay, Bohol and Davao.
PDoT under-secretary for tourism promotions Roberto Antonio said the destinations are relatively unspoilt and represent the best of what the country has to offer.
“We used to promote 25 destinations which people can find confusing so we have just cut it down to eight,” he said.
“Each destination has several activities themed around it, offered as a package with the best hotels, the best dive sites, the best examples of culture and the best nature has to offer.”
With almost 100,000 visitors from the UK arriving in the Philippines each year, Antonio is confident the new strategy will see this figure rise.
“The Philippines has reached its maturity in the travel industry and is now ready, with the facilities in place, for this campaign to be introduced,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PDoT and Singapore Airlines have agreed on a joint tourism promotion next year covering Europe, Australia and Singapore.