DAPITAN CITY -- The City Government of Dapitan has taken its tourism to a whole new level- making it digital.
Powered by Smart Communications, Dapitan City has partnered with a new media start-up, the InnoPub, for the city's launching of “Digital Tourism” at Rizal Shrine, Dapitan City on Thursday.
The first in Mindanao, digital tourism signals that information of the different tourist destinations of the city will be made available online by downloading an application on mobile devices.
"Dapitan is rich in history, and through our mobile app and interactive markers, we are able to help create a digital version of its stories available to all for free,” Smart Public Affairs Group head Ramon R. Isberto said.
Dubbed as 'Dapitan Guide,' the mobile app is a comprehensive resource on 'where to go' and 'what to do' in the city, just like having a tour guide for yourself.
It shows a virtual concierge feature which will allow tourists to have a direct communication with the Dapitan City Tourism Office for more inquiries.
An offline-capable app, Dapitan Guide lists famous attractions of the city including the Rizal Shrine, relief map of Mindanao built by national hero Dr. Jose Rizal himself, Gloria Fantasyland and the Dakak Park Beach Resort, among others.
Considered as Rizal's second home, lawyer Ma. Jane Paredes who heads the Smart Public Affairs Group in Visayas and Mindanao, said Dapitan deserves to be the pioneering recipient for the project.
"We are very happy that it is launched here in this historic, wonderful city where our national hero existed and stayed for years. We hope the project will add and attract more tourists," Paredes said.
City Councilor Alexander Estacio welcomed the project and called it a step to progress and development.
He said this will help promote the tourism industry, which he said is the 'economic muscle' of the city.
"This will be a fresh platform for Dapitan, this is going beyond the impossible, which means addressing old problems with new solutions, and going digital is the best yet," Estacio added.
Max Limpag, InnoPub Media co-founder, said app will serve not only as a tour guide but also a good companion.
"With the Digital Tourism, we make important tourism and historical information, more widely available to tourists through their mobile devices," Limpag said.
Dapitan City currently has installed five markers and will install 30 more in the coming next months.
The markers contains QR codes making the influx of information for a certain tourist spot possible the moment you scan it through your mobile device.
Digital Tourism is a nationwide campaign by Smart Communications and InnoPub Media 'to harness mobile technology in the delivery of tourism, cultural, and historical information. '
The campaign kicked off in Cebu and has expanded to its key tourism towns including other provinces such as Iloilo, Baguio, Bohol, and Albay.