DOT, Klook renew alliance to bring local tourism to global stage

Insider Spotlight

• The Department of Tourism and Klook renewed their MOU for a multi-year partnership aimed at growing Philippine tourism
• The alliance will spotlight hidden gems across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao while helping local tourism businesses embrace digitalization
• Local operators and MSMEs will gain greater access to Klook’s platform, potentially connecting their experiences with domestic and international travelers
  
  
  

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and travel experiences platform Klook,  an Asia-based platform for experiences and travel services, have renewed their strategic partnership, extending efforts to promote Philippine destinations and bring more local tourism operators into the digital economy.

The multi-year Memorandum of Understanding will tap Klook’s global marketing reach and network of local operators to stimulate tourism demand. The partnership includes campaigns such as “Discover More to Love,” curated travel experiences and programs designed to help tourism businesses adopt digital tools.

Why it matters

The renewed partnership puts greater focus on provincial micro, small and medium enterprises, potentially giving lesser-known tourism operators a wider market while making their products easier for travelers to discover and book online.

“As we continue to expand our partnership with Klook, we are placing greater emphasis on the participation of our tourism stakeholders. We want to ensure that our experience providers, particularly MSMEs in the provinces, are equipped to participate meaningfully in the digital tourism ecosystem,” Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said in a statement.

“By giving them access to platforms such as Klook, where their offerings can be made more visible and bookable, we can connect them more directly with travelers while making the booking process more seamless, convenient, and secure,” Angara-Mathay said.

Driving local growth

Under the renewed agreement, the DOT and Klook will work on initiatives highlighting hidden gems and emerging destinations across the Philippines. The collaboration will also support destination branding and tourism product development for community operators and MSMEs through the DOT’s Regional Offices.

“Our partnership with the DOT has been an incredible milestone for Klook, and we are thrilled to extend this across a multi-year period to elevate what we believe Philippine tourism can be,” Klook Philippines general manager Michelle Ho said. 

“By supporting and empowering local merchants, we aren’t just making unique, authentic Filipino experiences more accessible, but are ultimately positioning the Philippines as a top-of-mind destination for travelers domestically and worldwide.”

What’s next

The partners plan to build on Klook’s role in advancing digital adoption, helping local businesses reach more travelers and adapt their offerings to changing travel interests.

“This renewed ambition is a testament to the success of our combined efforts, and we look forward to collaborating on even more initiatives to propel Philippine tourism forward,” Ho added. —Ramon C. Nocon | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma