The Philippines aims to keep South Korean tourists flooding in, with increased security for its nationals and promotional packages to continue footfall from its top source market.
On the ground, the Philippines’ Department of Tourism office in Seoul is pushing marketing campaigns, airline and travel agency promotions and golf and leisure offerings, aimed at continuing to drive visitation beyond Manila to Clark, Cebu and Boracay.
But attracting the visitors is only the first step, and the Philippine National Police recently assured its commitments to ensure “the safety and security of their citizens” in the Philippines.
The efforts extend beyond just visitors but also to the South Korean community living and working in the Philippines.
A recent memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the PNP and the Korean National Police Agency strengthens working relations between the parties and “enhances the sharing of key information needed in the conduct of operation and investigation”, highlighted a PNP official.
The efforts run in parallel to the Philippines crackdown on scam centers in the post-Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) era. And the public image of the Philippines is particularly important this year, as it undergoes another Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluation.
