Malacañang Changes Tourism Slogan to "Pilipinas Kay Ganda"

[peewee_toot]

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unsa kaha ang nindot nga slogan sa aside ana ilang gi mugna...

[sharkey360]

Hey, be sure to watch this news video about "Pilipinas Kay Ganda"

DOT sec Alberto Lim speaks, and so does Richard Gordon and a few tourists.

24oras: DOT's 'Pilipinas Kay Ganda' campaign met with criticism - Video - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

Observe how Lim reacts.

[Motownkid]

DOT sec Alberto Lim speaks, and so does Richard Gordon and a few tourists.

24oras: DOT's 'Pilipinas Kay Ganda' campaign met with criticism - Video - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

Observe how Lim reacts.

I have no idea who that Sec. Lim is pero mura man syag "istambay" manubag diha sa interview. He wasn't sure about everything he was saying!

"Dahil, yung ahhh.. yung ahhh.. reason why the travel is, dahil, you know... malaman yung ibang kultura, ibang ahhh... mgaaaaa... *pauses* pagkain, noh?... They want to learn, they want to learn... ahhh.. a new ahhh.. a new culture eh so... magandang paraan to ahh.. para na.. ipakita na of course we love our own country. *laughs* and we're using our own language to ahhh.. to invite others."

OMFG! Janina San Miguel, ikaw ba yan?

[sharkey360]

An in-depth article about tourism and how the DOT (past and presence) operated

What tourism is about

There has been so much opposition to the Tourism Department’s “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” slogan—from almost all sectors of society —that Secretary Alberto Lim has chosen to withdraw it.

I don’t know the genius who concocted that impotent slogan, which must have cost the department a leg. But “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” definitely isn’t intended for foreigners. For one thing, the country is better known abroad as the Philippines, not Pilipinas, and more importantly, “Kay Ganda” will not strike a note for foreign tourists no matter how beautiful our country really is.

Look at Malaysia’s slogan, “Truly Asia, “Thailand’s “Amazing Thailand,” and India’s “Incredible India.” They work to catch the eye of a foreign tourist.

If those geniuses at the DOT had only use a little imagination why imagination, why not “Philippines, Land of Smiles” giving emphasis to the traditional Filipino hospitality for which we are known, or even “Philippines 7,000 Amazing Islands,” featuring Boracay and other resorts and surf and dive sites?

I don’t pretend to be adept in branding, but, Santa Banana, “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” simply won’t sell.

***

Obviously, Lim and his people are clueless about promotion, marketing and branding.

As secretary of tourism, one must have experience in marketing. And one must travel worldwide to sell the country. Together with these efforts, the DoT must have offices and agents in countries with sufficient backups in the form of marketing tools.

But, would you believe that even in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, when tourists ask where they can go to in the Philippines, travel agents do not have materials at all? My gulay, in the Philippine consulates in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, they don’t even have anything for tourists to see. Once when I was in Los Angeles, I asked the consulate if there was anything promotional about the country. They gave me copies of printed text about Philippine tourist spots. Nakakahiya (shameful)!

Other countries spend money for promotions and marketing. But, here in the Philippines, with the meager budget of the DoT, how in the world can we expect to compare with Thailand’s 12 million tourists, Malaysia’s and Vietnam’s 7 million each?

Airing a commercial over CNN alone can cost almost a million dollars.

***

Still, I do recall that some former secretaries of tourism were able to give the Philippines a brand name despite meager resources.

During the regime of the late dictator President Marcos, there was the late journalist Joe Aspiras, the father of the “balikbayan box” and promoter of the “balikbayan” program. His years in journalism helped him become imaginative. After martial law, there was Speedy Gonzalez, the late President Cory’s secretary of tourism, who knew all about promotions and marketing, having been a successful businessman. Speedy revived an ailing Philippine tourism.

Then came the indefatigable former Senator Richard Gordon, who adopted the “Wow Philippines” slogan giving emphasis to “Wealth of Wonders” in the country.

But Bertie Lim has had no experience at all in promotions and marketing. He is trying to be different by changing whatever reminded him of the Arroyo administration. Hence the ugly new slogan.

Manila Standard Today -- What tourism is about -- 2010/november/19

[sharkey360]

Wow, what an ugly slogan

NO matter how you cut it, the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” campaign to promote the country as a tourist destination has been a public relations nightmare. As a testament to just how badly the P200-million re-branding exercise has gone so far, a Web site created to push the new slogan to the forefront of the country’s tourism efforts was yanked off the Internet one day after it went live, amid scathing criticism from the public that focused on any of the following perceptions:

• The slogan itself is boring and uninspired, creating very little excitement even among Filipinos who understand what the words mean.

• Compared to “Wow Philippines,” which it replaces, “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” is initially unintelligible to foreigners, who are the obvious targets for such a marketing campaign.

• The new Web site’s domain name, beautifulpilipinas.com, sounds like a mail-order bride service.

More at Manila Standard Today -- Wow, what an ugly slogan -- 2010/november/19

[phil8s]

promote tourism para dghan ug kwarta ang pinas!

[colby]

The senate is interested in investigating SEC. Lim, hopefully mag LIVE coverage ang ANC. Hopefuuly mka sab-an ni si Sec. Lim...On the other hand, I usually wait for Senator Marcos na mag ask sa question. His my favorite among the senador..

[FranZeno]

Like around the nation, "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" is highly unpopular in Cebu. The new DOT should consult with tourism pros here in Cebu and in nearby provinces that make up Central Visayas. It's so bad that they had someone (with no knowledge about Cebu) write a poor and inaccurate description of Cebu as a tourism destination.

Last I checked, a lot of people have expressed negative views about Lim and the DOT. They are questioning his leadership and credibility a lot.

asa ka nakabasa ani bro? nahan ko mkbasa unsa iya description dah..hehehe

[sharkey360]

asa ka nakabasa ani bro? nahan ko mkbasa unsa iya description dah..hehehe

Cebu-based tour guide Bino Guerrero said whoever wrote the section on Cebu does not know Cebu because it said, “You will also see cliffs that tower above crashing surfs, virgin forests, clear rivers, mossy jungles, and cool mountain ridges.”

Guerrero asked, “Where in Cebu can you find it?

An article about Cebu’s nightlife mentioned Ayala Mall. Doesn’t the writer know that malls close at the latest, 9 p.m?

ellen tordesillas Not so beautiful ‘Pilipinas kay Ganda’

[romantic_guy08]

-wrong post-