If you haven't notice yet, must have I reminded you that this month of April marks the 6th year anniversary of the WOW Philippines Tourism Campaign. Yes, it has already been six years since we took a step ahead in promoting our dear motherland.
When it was launched by the then Tourism Secretary now Senator Richard Gordon, Philippines started seeing changes. The figures from 2 million visitors in 2001 went to 3 million with the first year of the campaign. However, the figures went down, even lower than the usual when 2003 came because of the SARS epidemic.
The following year, the country put its full effort to promote it all over the world. Consulates and embassies of the Philippines all around the world coordinated with Filipino communities in every country to spread the word of visiting the country and encourage other people as well. By the end of 2004, the figures of visitors went back to business, and is doing great.
The annual visitors of the country now reaches 8 to 10 million, a very astonishing change it really has been. This tourism is not only accounted for the countries tourist spots and vacation getaways. In 2005, the government announced that 15% of the foreign visitors came from tourist who went here for medical operations. Medical Tourism was then born and was the talk of the town. Soon enough, the English Literacy Tourism hyped in, with the Koreans came running in every sea and air ports of the country in quest of learning better English. At present, the Koreans are still the most number of visitor in the country and their number are still growing every year.
The WOW Philippines really did well in promoting the country's tourism and international potentials. There are still a lot of things for us to see and expect for the coming years. And the Philippines will stand ready for that moment.
Get ready to be mesmerized and say WOW Philippines!
