PHILIPPINES: ‘Visit the Philippines Again’ Palace Asks Filipino Tourists

It looks like the raging tanim-bala problem in Philippine airports is not stopping the government from enticing more tourists to visit the country.

Government officials are even asking Filipinos to support the Department of Tourism (DOT) campaign next to attract more visitors.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte mentioned DOT’s launch of the ‘Visit the Philippines Again 2016’ tourism promotion campaign, in a radio interview.

She also said the Department of Tourism also launched a contest of “epic picture failures,”—these are badly framed or funny photographs of tourists visiting the Philippines.

Should their photos be chosen, these tourists will be given an opportunity to once again visit the Philippines under the DOT campaign.

The DOT launched last month its marketing campaign for 2016 building on the tourism campaign used by the department this year. Singer Apl.de.Ap, a popular entertainer and member of the group The Black Eyed Peas, was tapped to write a song and appear in a video promoting the Philippines.

The ongoing scandal has forced visitors to rethink travel plans to the country while executives of multilateral agencies have been given stern warning about the tanim/laglag bala scheme of some odious airport personnel.