It’s more fun in the Philippines!

Why the Philippines? Because it’s more fun in the Philippines!” -DOT Sec. Mon Jimenez

Its more than a mouthful compared with the more short and catchy slogans of our Asian neighbors, but the new tourism slogan, which was designed by advertising firm, BBDO Guerrero | Proximity Philippines (BBDO was also the one behind the successful WOW Philippines a few years back), unveiled this morning by the Department of Tourism’s secretary, Mon Jimenez, is, well, interesting and good with the official Twitter hashtag #1ForFun:

It’s more fun in the Philippines

Just minutes after the announcement, #itsmorefuninthePhilippines and #1ForFun were trending in the country and my Tweetdeck timeline was scrolling down fast with friends’s tweets.

And what about the logo? Its simple, colorful and way better than the controversial Pilipinas kay Ganda unveiled last year which was more childish and, allegedly plagiarized from another country’s tourism design. I do love the map design which, from a distance, looks like a pixelized version but upon closer inspection is actually a section of a banig, native woven mat. It does say something about our culture and traditions symbolized in the briefest way possible without losing its significance.

It is just attractive, colorful and beautiful. Something that I’m sure Pinoys and most travel bloggers will support.

Now that the slogan has been unveiled and advertising plans put in place, I just hope that we go beyond sloganeering. First and foremost, the government should get their focus and mobilize to address the following:

• Infrastructure. We should make our tourism sites accessible as possible. Is the programmed P140B+ economic building stimulus fund include tourism revitalization and support?
• Cut down red tape, streamline tourism related tax issues  and apply standardized but tourist friendly rates.
• Train people and communities to be tourist friendly but at the same time protective what they have in their midst. I’ve come across many communities that have many heritage treasures but they don’t know its potential for their town.
• and so many things that we still have to address in order to reach the planned 10 million visitors.

There’s still a long way to go and I do hope we do our part as well. The slogan is already reflective of what we are as Filipinos and what we have in our country and let’s do make it happen.