Govt’s Bangon Tours aim to help Yolanda-hit areas through tourism

Typhoon Yolanda devastated a sizeable portion of central Philippines last November, leaving more than 8,000 people dead or missing and causing billions of pesos' worth of damage that will take years to replace or rehabilitate. One of the ways the government is trying to do so is through a tourism initiative that will directly contribute to rebuilding efforts in the affected provinces: Bangon Tours.

The Bangon Tours project of the Tourism department's Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is a collaboration among the TPB, local governments, and the private sector—the travel industry and companies outside it. Currently on offer are special tour packages to 16 tourist hotspots around the country, with more destinations to be added.

Establishments participating in Bangon Tours "are being asked to share at least five percent of their net income from the tour packages/room nights sold via Bangon Tours. The percentage share will be directly given to the company’s chosen non-government organization (NGO) or charitable foundation involved with the disaster-affected communities," said TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III in a statement.

The DOT also hopes that Bangon Tours will help it reach its goal of 45 million domestic travelers this year, and urges Filipinos to help out by choosing any of the tour packages being offered for their next vacation.

"While the affected tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas are being rebuilt, we invite everyone to travel more to the other 16 regions of the Philippines, visit as many of our fun destinations as possible and at the same contribute your share in our country’s recovery and rebuilding efforts through Bangon Tours," said Enerio.

The latest company to sign up with Bangon Tours is Cebu Pacific, with its Bangon Tour Seat Sale. Other participants in the project include the Provincial Government of Capiz and private companies like The Manila Hotel, Diamond Hotel Philippines, EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Agoda.com, Duty-Free Philippines and members of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association  — BM, GMA News

Bangon Tours was launched in December and will run until February 28. For more information, contact Lia L. Fernando of the Tourism Promotions Board’s Bangon Tours Secretariat at (632) 525-0372, (632) 525-9318 to 27 local 202 or bangontours@tpb.gov.ph.