CLARK FREEPORT -- From cultural heritage sites to culinary haven to surfing safari to off road adventure to aerial tour of Mt. Pinatubo to hot spring experience, every tourist can sample Central Luzon’s vibrant destinations.
Aproximately 70 kilometers north of Manila, Central Luzon could be included in foreign and local tourists' "travel goals.”
To boost tourism, the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Central Luzon re-launched the “Bring Home a Friend” (BHAF) program during the North Philippines Tourism and Travel Expo held recently at the event center of SM City Clark in Clark Freeport.
“Since then, we have been campaigning for this (BHAF) program in a series of major events happening region wide by way of awarding raffle prizes such as round trip domestic airfares courtesy of Philippine Airlines and Air Asia,” said Carolina Uy, officer-in-charge of DOT-3.
Aside from airfares, gift certificates such as free entrance and day tours at Camaya Coast in Mariveles, Bataan were given away to winners who have registered in the said program according to Uy.
“We gave raffle prizes during the Kapampangan Food Festival last December 7, Belenismo in Tarlac and Mutya Ning Capas,” she added.
The DOT exec also announced its partnership with AirAsia, Globe Telecom, SM Supermalls in Central Luzon and Camaya Coast in Mariveles, Bataan.
The BHAF is a rewards program which seeks to promote travel to the Philippines by encouraging Filipinos or expatriates in the Philippines to invite friends from abroad with the lure of prizes for both “sponsor” and “invitee.”
Any eligible “sponsor” and “invitee” can join by simply following four simple steps: Invite, Accept, Travel and Register.
Four months from now, sponsor-winners will receive the following: a P7 million worth of Megaworld condominium unit located at East Wood Libis in Quezon City for first prize; orange metallic automatic transmission Toyota Vios 2017 1.5G; and P200,000 worth of gift certificates from Duty Free Philippines for the third prize.
Invitees, on the other hand, will have a chance to win a trip to El Nido Resort, JPark Island in Cebu and Pearl Farm Resort in Davao for first, second and third prizes, respectively.
Former DOT chief Mina Gabor expressed excitement and high esteem that the project she initiated 23 years ago has come back to life.
Gabor, who is also the president of International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) has high hopes of its success as the current situation is more enabling now given that more prizes are at stake and more importantly, through digital and social media, activation and promotion is a lot easier.
The promo period for BHAF will run from October 15 to April 15, 2018. For more program mechanics, visit www.bringhomeafriend.online or www.tourism.gov.ph.