The Department of Tourism (DOT), in line with its objective of promoting a culture of tourism research in the country is calling for research proposals for its 2019 Tourism Research Grant. The DOT is providing financial assistance to individual research in tourism. The grant aims to foster evidence-based planning, decision-making, and policy formulation. Conceptualized by the Office of Tourism Development Planning, Research and Information Management, this new program also seeks to develop a Philippine journal of tourism research studies and other related topics.


The grant is available to all Filipino graduate and postgraduate students, faculty members, and tourism practitioners currently enrolled or affiliated with any academic institution or tourism organization. Institutions, societies, universities, NGOs, and civil society groups are NOT eligible to apply. Also, officials and staff of the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies are NOT eligible to apply. 


Research proposals must be aligned with the DOT Secretary’s policy direction for the current year which are:

  1. Efficiency and effectivity of social media as a communication channel for sustainable tourism marketing and promotions
  2. Investments in green technologies by tourism-oriented establishments
  3. Ensuring the safety and security of tourists through mandatory accreditation of accommodation establishments
  4. Impact of travel advisories to the safety and security image of the Philippines as a tourist destination
  5. Impact of removing visa restrictions to the Chinese and Indian source markets
  6. Assessing the educational and dive products and markets
  7. Impact of the ASEAN MRA on the Philippine accommodation labor market

Submission of applications and proposals to the DOT-Tourism Research Grant Program commenced on May 2, 2019 (Thursday). Requirements include a duly accomplished application form, a research proposal with abstract and proof of enrollment, employment, or affiliation with their corresponding organizations or institution. 

 

Deadline of applications is on May 31, 2019 (Friday) at the close of business hours (5:00 PM, Philippine Standard Time). Complete documents must be sent to the Philippine Department of Tourism through dottourismresearchgrant@gmail.com with the following subject line “Surname – Research Theme”. Late and/or incomplete submissions will automatically be disqualified. 


The full DOT- Tourism Research Grant Mechanics and forms can be accessed through: www.tourism.gov.ph/microsite/tourismresearchgrant/. For inquiries, you may contact:


Mr. Alex C. Macatuno

Office of Tourism Development Planning, Research and Information Management

Philippine Department of Tourism 

5th Floor, New DOT Building, 351 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City

Trunk line: 4595200, Local: 506 or 512

Email: dottourismresearchgrant@gmail.com

***For emails, use the subject line: “DOT Tourism Research Grant_Surname – Subject”

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 MAKATI CITY – The Philippines strengthened its tourism partnership with France through the signing of the summary record of discussion during the 1st Philippines-France Joint Working Group Meeting.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon Jr. signed on behalf of the country while the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Head of Tourism Promotion Department Clément Laloux represented the French delegation.

“Our meeting aims to discuss the plans and developments of the agreement to recommend programs, projects, and activities for the development of tourism cooperation between our two countries…As we are gathered here, may we continue to help each other to build and promote our respective countries,” Undersecretary Bengzon said.

French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Head of Tourism Promotion Department Clément Laloux (left) together with DOT Undersecretary Bengzon

The inaugural joint working group meeting between the two nations commenced following the signing of the agreement on tourism cooperation in Manila last February 2015.

“We are very happy to be here for this first joint committee on tourism. I think we both worked very actively to increase the number of tourists coming to the Philippines and coming to France. I’m sure that the French expertise of the French companies that are part of the delegation will take part in this development,” Laloux said.

Leading the Embassy of France in Manila delegation are His Excellency Nicolas Galey, French Ambassador to the Philippines and Micronesia, Deputy Head of Mission Christine Carole, Political Counsellor Quentin Biehler, Economic Counsellor Laurent Estrade, and Counsellor Camille Chabe.

Representing other French government organizations include  Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs International Development Officer Maud Hainry and Atout Franc Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Director Morad Tayebi.

The French private sector was well represented by Aéroport de Paris Ingénierie Aviation Marketing Director Guillaume Arrigoni, Pomo Asia Sales Manager Benjamin Fauchier Delavigne, Club Med Regional Development Manager – East and South Asia and Pacific Sébastian Favre, PayinTech Country Manager – Philippines Brian Tessier, and Paris-Manila Technology Corp. President and CEO and member of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines Hubort d’Aboville.

“France is well aware of the huge potential of the Philippines’ tourism sector…Your beautiful and welcoming country can certainly attract many more tourists beyond the well-known destinations in Southeast Asia. As your slogan says, it’s always more fun in the Philippines,” Ambassador Galey shared.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. signs the summary record of discussion during the 1st Philippines-France Joint Working Group Meeting

Among the agenda of the meeting covered were the destination promotion efforts and best practices, investment opportunities, air route connectivity and direct flight proposal, and the two-way tourism traffic.

“We have managed to attract almost 75,000 French tourists in 2018, hopefully with better coordination and closer cooperation it can finally reach 100,000,” Undersecretary Bengzon added.


A total of 74,389 French tourists visited the Philippines last year with 22,219 arrivals already for the first two months of 2019. This recorded a double-digit growth of 22.25% against the same period in 2018.

Conversely, over 86,000,000 Filipinos visited France in 2017 mostly on pilgrimage tours. 

France is the country’s thirteenth source market and is the top three for Europe following the United Kingdom and Germany. As of February this year, French tourists are also the ninth top spending tourist with PHP 896,158,004 expenditures or USD 17,171,049.

“Your beautiful and welcoming country can certainly attract many more tourists beyond the well-known destinations in Southeast Asia. As your slogan says, it’s always more fun in the Philippines.” -  His Excellency Nicolas Galey, French Ambassador to the Philippines and Micronesia (left)

The DOT targets 114,264 French tourist arrivals by 2020.

In order to attract more French nationals, the DOT conducts product and market research and development with training, webinars, e-learning and incentive programs for the French market, trade development and trade support via French travel agents familiarization trip, joint promotion campaigns, business-to-business workshop with Philippine travel trade and Central Europe roadshow, conduct of French media familiarization tours, and participation at major trade and consumer fairs including dive shows with the notable endorsement of French celebrity freediver Guillaume Néry as the Freediving Ambassador of the Philippines.

The French delegation also toured Intramuros, Rizal Park, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, National Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Museum of Natural History showcasing Manila’s tourism products, park management, heritage conservation, and deep religious culture of Filipinos.
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 As the Philippines celebrate National Heritage Month this May, the Department of Tourism (DOT) invites the public to explore and learn about Philippine culture and history by visiting Museo de Intramuros in Manila.


Managed by the Intramuros Aministration (IA), Museo de Intramuros is located in two important reconstructions inside the walled city: the San Ignacio Church and the Mission House of the Society of Jesus. The museum was designed to house the period art collections of IA that includes ecclesiastical art, furniture, vestments, and textiles and other artifacts.

The museum will be open to the public starting May 2, 2019, and admission is free.

Museo de Intramuros will be open to the public starting May 2, 2019, and admission is free


Museo de Intramuros’ official opening, which took place on April 29, 2019, was among the highlights of the Intramuros Administration’s 40th anniversary as an institution.

The current in-house exhibition presents the story of the evangelization of the Philippines from the perspective of the Filipinos. It explores changes in the “Filipino” psyche as colonization introduced a new religion and culture to the natives.

With the display of religious images belonging to the IA collection, the exhibition is able to highlight Filipino artistry and craftsmanship that developed from the merging of the indigenous and the foreign.

DOT and Intramuros Administration family during the opening of Museo de Intramuros

Curated by Dr. Esperanza Gatbonton, Gino Gonzales, Dr. Cecilia dela Paz, Santiago Pilar and Martin Tinio, theexhibition has six components: (1) The Immaculate Conception, (2) The Religious Order, (3) The Patronato Real and the establishment of Parishes, (4) Religious Colonial Paintings, (5) The establishment of a parish and sacred vessels, and (6) The Indio Response.

In her 1981 book Philippine Relihious Imagey, co-curator Dr. Gatbonton wrote, “This collection of the Intramuros Administration is extremely valuable because it represents the first real attempt to collect and preserve within the Philippines an important aspect of the country’s cultural heritage.

“The collection affords the viewer a panorama of the various styles and enables him to compare them with the artifacts done abroad in the same medium. We, Filipinos, have always tended to accept that we were the passive receiver of artistic stimuli from abroad. This collection proves that the Philippines was as much a giver.”

Tourism Secretary Bernadettte Romulo-Puyat congratulated IA Administrator Guiller Asido and the cultural workers behind the museum and added, “This project, rooted in passion and a deep love of country, must be emulated and replicated.”

At the museum’s opening, DOT Secretary and Chairperson of the IA Board of Administrators, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said, “IA’s dedication in ensuring that the tangible treasures that immortalize our history are now accessible to the public is commendable.”

She congratulated IA Administrator Guiller Asido and the cultural workers behind the museum and added, “This project, rooted in passion and a deep love of country, must be emulated and replicated.”

Tourism Secretary Romulo-Puyat tours the three-story museum which showcases the form of religious images belonging to the Intramuros Administration collection 

“The Department of Tourism will be investing in the promotion of cultural tourism in the years to come. We’re doing it not just because we need to expand our tourism products, engage a specific market and increase revenue. Cultural tourism is telling the world our narrative. It is also a platform to ensure that our heritage structures and objects such as these will be preserved and enjoyed by our progeny,” Puyat said.

The Intramuros Administration is an attached agency of the DOT in-charge of the restoration, development, and promotion of the historic walled city of Intramuros.


Relics and figures of the Establishment of a Parish and Sacred Vessels exhibit at the second floor

Showcase of the future of the Intramuros Administration at the third floor




Images of the Religious Orders and the Immaculate Conception exhibit at the ground floor of the museum


 
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