IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES: The New DOT Tourism Slogan

I was one of the many Filipino who were thrilled by the appointment of the new Department of Tourism (DOT)Secretary Mon Jimenez. I saw his interview with Boy Abunda in the Bottomline aired at ABS-CBN and I came to admire this PR Guy turned tourism Secretary for bringing hope into the department which badly needs fresh marketing strategies.As a travel enthusiast who blogs about his experience, I was excited about the future of tourism in the Philippines. Then there was silence.For a few month we waited and wondered what's next.....

Today, DOT finally made noice again.This time with the launch of the new tourism campaign: IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES.

"We need a line that is easily understood. Competitive. More fun in the Philippines is true. Keri natin ito" - Sec. Mon Jimenez. He added---"No one can own the expression "it's more fun" but it's very true for PH so it becomes ours. "FUN" is a fusion of place and people. A place is not fun if there is no fun people in it."

So what are we selling?

COMMUTING: it's more fun in the PHILIPPINES

commuting with Korean tourists on top of a jeepney in Sagada

GETTING UPSTAIRS: it's more fun in the PHILIPPINES

STATUS UPDATES: it's more fun in the PHILIPPINES

The reception in social media is generally positive

Here's what they say:

gmanews GMA News 

#ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines: Some netizens commended the slogan's simplicity, some are saying it lacks punch. Read:bit.ly/znIlad

artslave gian p. 

now the task for DOT is execute the campaign and work with BOI to ease their tourist entry process! make it work #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines

RicoHizon Rico Hizon 

Pilipinas IKAW NA! RT “@tonyocruz: Loud and clear: The world's social media capital has spoken! #1forfun #itsmorefuninthephilippines”

iamsuperbianca bianca gonzalez 

i like it, simply because its true! its more fun in the philippines!!!! :)

gmanews GMA News 

#itsmorefuninthephilippines slogan can boost Philippine tourism arrivals to 10 Million – Palace. Read more: bit.ly/AxjCse

officialTIMYAP Tim Yap 

Because #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines “@tonyocruz: Today, a worldwide trend on Twitter. Next: a premiere global destination. #1forfun"

RonaldORedito Ronald Redito 

Suggestion to Sec @MonJQuotes if you want Philippines to compete, lower the rates of hotels, compare it with Vietnam and Cambodia #1ForFUN

Jimparedes Jim 

"It's more fun in the Philippines", Pasko, night life, beaches, shopping, eating, fiesta, birthday, kasal, pati lamay actually. #1ForFUN

DOTPhilippines Tourism Department 

"It's time to be proud and competitive" #1ForFun

abeolandres Abe Olandres 

The #itsmorefuninthephilippines slogan is great. Just need to make sure we make it really, truly fun. #customs #fees #taxi #delayed

I'll add mine:

GROUP PICS: more fun in the PHILIPPINES

HIKING: more fun in the PHILIPPINES

CHURCH VISITS: it's more fun in the PHILIPPINES

even in CEMETERIES: it's more fun in the PHILIPPINES

MEETING FRIENDS:  it's more fun in the PHILIPPINES

The list continues. There are thousands of reasons why it's more fun in the Philippines and I buy that.Why? Because we Filipinos are HAPPY people. Even McDonalds agree #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines coz they're #1 in theworld except the Phils where they can't beat the fat stupid happy bee.lol Yeah, let's own it, coz if there's one way to describe our country and our people, that wuld be it. We know how to enjoy. Let's show the world that.

One more thing IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES because of http://www.pusangkalye.net/search/label/travel .hahaha

SUNRISE: it's more fun in the PHILIPPINES

I am excited about the slogan but this campaign is just the first step. We are not lying when we say we are a happy people. But the Philippines being a fun destination could be relative depending on who we sell the idea to. Bottom line is, we have a lot of work to do to ensure that the people who visit us would feel exactly the same. Say, it's not fun if  you have to fly 16 hours or more to get to Manila, get stuck with long queues in the worse airport in the world, miss your connecting flight to another destination in the country as there's no direct flight to get there.It's not fun if the taxi driver doesn't use the taxi meter and overcharge you. It's not fun if while walking along EDSA or riding the MRT, some pickpockets are waiting to steal your wallet or cellphone. It's a good slogan but we should LOOK BEYOND that.

We have to work hard to ensure our guests that conditions here are really fun, if not, the world will just MAKE FUN of us!!!!!!

PS: Photos were taken during our Banaue- Sagada trip where we met a group of Korean students on vacation:)
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http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/