AS local tourism starts to slowly reopen, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines on Friday launched Travel Philippines, the country’s official travel companion that will serve as guide for tourists to be able to have a safe and fun travel in the “new normal” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The app provides users access to the latest travel advisories and safety guidelines in various destinations that have reopened to tourism.
Initially, six destinations — Baguio City, Bohol, Boracay, Ilocos Norte, Manila and Palawan were already featured in the app.
The easy-to-use platform allows users to create itineraries for their future trips, find up-to-date information on their favorite tourist attractions, and securely store digital copies of travel documents.
“As we continue to reopen the country’s tourism destinations, Travel Philippines timely serves as every tourist’s official guide to safe and fun travel,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
“With the ever-changing needs and challenges in travel brought about by the pandemic, Travel Philippines will help both domestic and international tourists have safer and more memorable travel experiences amid our ‘new normal’,” added the tourism chief.
DOT and TPB developed Travel Philippines in partnership with inclusion tech venture builder HIMO Global Inc.
“Unlike other travel companions, we created the go-to companion for the traveler in the new normal, prioritizing ease in access to the latest safety information about their favorite destinations,” said Winston Damarillo, President of HIMO Global Inc. and CEO of Talino Venture Labs.
Within Travel Philippines is an extensive database of various destinations and attractions that are reopening after the COVID-19 community quarantines.
The App will be regularly updated with the latest information not only on the initial six featured places but other travel destinations around the Philippines.
Travel Philippines will also contain the latest health and safety protocols being implemented within these locations, sourced directly from their local tourism offices. It also features built-in itinerary maker that integrates with its extensive catalogue of tourist attractions, local restaurants, and accommodation to enable users to bookmark any of the locations they read about within the platform and plan out their trips based on their preferences.
Tourists can also upload into their personal Travel Philippines account, digital copies of pertinent documents such as boarding passes, hotel reservations, and medical certificates, the PTB said.
Through its encrypted platform, the app will offer users a go-to folder for all of their documents and forms, which they will be able to access even if their device does not have an Internet connection, it added.
