The Philippines was recognized again in the international tourism scene after the Department of Tourism's (DOT) safe travel advertisement get a citation from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said DOT's "Have a Safe Trip, Pinas" ad was hailed as one of the Exceptional Stories of Sustainable Tourism in the 2021 UNWTO Tourism Video Competition.
"We are proud that the video produced by the Department made it to this prestigious competition. More importantly, we were able to show how tourism provides jobs and livelihoods while conveying our message of travelling safely," Puyat said on Saturday, Nov. 11.
The competition was launched by the UNWTO ahead of its 24th General Assembly to recognize the best visual storytellers from every global region.
Based on the UNWTO website, video entries were judged based on two categories: "Tourism and the Decade of Action," which shows how the tourism sector is advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and "Exceptional Stories of Sustainable Tourism," which showcases the human face of tourism and make clear the positive social impact the sector can have through generating opportunities for all.
The Have A Safe Trip, Pinas video was presented by the UNWTO competition as one of the Exceptional Stories of Sustainable Tourism, specifically for the Asia and the Pacific region.
Launched in November 2020, the DOT's ad showed how travelling amidst the pandemic can still be safe and fun while highlighting the community benefits of tourism.
The video featured workers from Boracay Island–the first tourist destination in the Philippines to open since the pandemic–whose jobs and livelihoods were restored when local leisure travel resumed.
Last week, the UNWTO also named Brgy. Bojo in Aloguinsan, Cebu as one of the Best Tourism Villages in the world for its natural and cultural resources, and innovative and transformative actions and commitment to tourism development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.