Over this past weekend, I got a little shock. I was watching the news on TV and saw a tourism ad for the Philippines. On the ad, they promoted a new tourism website that I was not aware of, so I visited. This is a website owned and operated by the Philippine Government Department of Tourism.
As I looked at the website, I found it OK, although certainly not spectacular. But, further surprises were yet to be found. On the site, I clicked on “Travel Links” and it has links to other sites operated by the Department of Tourism. I had already visited all of these sites regularly, but one I had not visited for a while. The site that I went to visit now was “WowPinoy“. Like all of the other Department of Tourism sites, I found it to be OK, but nothing spectacular. Down on the bottom left side of the WowPinoy site, there is a banner that says you can discuss “anything under the sun” about the Philippines at the WowPinoy Forum. This sounded interesting, so I decided to go take a look and see what kinds of discussions they were having. After all, I might see some stuff there that would make for interesting columns here on LiP.
Well, I did find something interesting, very interesting. Not good, but interesting.
When you go to the WowPinoy forum (I am not going to link to it because of the content, but if you follow the path that I have laid out here you can get there to check it out), you are greeted with a LOT of discussions. None of them are of any interest, though. They are all for SPAM, and particularly for hard core pornography.
Now, I know what is going on there, spammers are using the forum to post up this kind of content. However, these posts go back months and months. If the Department of Tourism wants to have this kind of site to promote tourism in the Philippines, they need to have employees monitoring their site and removing such items. And, I mean there are thousands of such advertisements. They range from online drug purchases to porn videos and such. Is this what the Philippine Government wants to promote about the Philippines? I think not. Why is nobody policing the WowPinoy forums?
One problem with the way that the Department of Tourism is doing this also is that they have so many websites for tourism in the Philippines. There are like a dozen different sites. Why don’t they concentrate all of the information into one good site instead of a dozen mediocre sites? Somebody in the government doesn’t understand the Web, and they don’t understand Branding. Throw on top of that the fact that they are sponsoring public forums that are full of nothing but porn and spam, and you have a problem for the Philippine Government!
In addition to the WowPinoy forum, I have also discovered that the Official Davao City Forum, which is owned and operated by the Davao City Government is also filled with Porn and Spam. Is nobody minding the store on these official government sites?
No wonder tourism to the Philippines is never what it should be. It certainly is not being promoted properly. In fact, this incident that I outlined here makes me feel sick.
Bahala na.
Hi Bob
It is really sad. The saddest part is that you seem to run across this problem whenever you try to find out more about the Philippines. It effects people who have never been there. Kind of like Thailand. They read and hear thousands of stories about the sex trade, and few stories shows the wonderful things the Philippines has to offer. Even the TV shows we get here in Vancouver on the multicultural channel are little more than old travel brochure type stuff. The computor is even worse. That's why I am sending this from my computor at work (on a break, of course). I tossed my computor at home out because I could not stop the garbage coming in for my teens to see.
There is a show called Lonely Planet that does a much better job of showing other countries, but I have only seen one on the Philippines. As I said before, I am planned on living in the Philippines for 6 months a year when I retire. I want to learn as much as I can before I do. I have a million questions, and will probably be asking them all over the next eight years.
That is why I was so happy to learn about your site. I can ask questions of people who have dealt with the same problems I will have to deal with and can learn by their experiences.
Back to the point. If the Philippine government does not promote the best parts of the Philippines, who will? If tourists are not informed of the millions(?) of wonderful things FOR A FAMILY to see and do in the Philippines, why would they spend their hard earned money on a vacation there?
By people like yourself who have grown to know and love the Philippines.
Don't let them get you down, Bob.
Wishing I was there
Allan
Bob
I have now and probably will for a long time to come have the notion that the philippines is run by 100% percent idiots from the top down. Literally everything is 2nd rate here from a tourist standpoint and has been exploited to the nth degree. It is really digusting. So who cares about a website. Won't help them anyway. Maybe I am wrong but, no one of any sophistication and money would want to come here after the first time. Everyone, I know who visits can't stand the place after a few days. They even sicken of Boracay. I feel ashamed for even inviting them and having them spend a good dollar to get here. Better for me to go to them in the future.
1. Scuba Diving – Mediocre at best to terrible
2. Quality of water – terrible
3. Quality of air – terrible
4. Restaurants – terrible
5. Shopping – terrible
6. Transportation – terrible
7. Real Estate – overpriced
8. Services – terrible
9. Schools – Mediocre to terrible (except private)
10. Technology – what technology
11. Boracay – terrible and crowded
I would inviter you to argure these points with me Bob. maybe I am too jaded already. You make
Now on the positive side,
1. People – Wonderfully warm and friendly
2. Life in general – Relaxed
3. Cost of Living – Reasonable for now
4. Golf – Great
For me thats it. I am here because of my wife and Golf is cheap. Now I can understand a retiree on a fixed income coming here to live. There are lots of women and life is relaxed and for many that is fantastic. Probably many on this site fit that demographic. There is nothing wrong with that. We are talking about tourists. This is why I have to start to leave for 5 – 6 months every year. Hey I've been here so long I guess it is all wearing on me now.
I don’t even drink tap water at home. I love the restaurants i love shopping transportation is an adventure.
Hi Allan – Thanks for commenting. I have seen lonely planet on TV, and it is indeed a good and interesting program. If the Philippines could produce something like that, or like this website, they would be miles ahead.
How hard would it be for the Philippine Govt. to clean up the porn on it's own websites?
Hi Bob,
Another honest and timely article. You summed it all up appropriately – BAHALA NA!
I want to ask your ok to forward this article to Mario Jacinto – Davao City Planning and Dev Coordinator. He is a good friend and a fraternity colleague who I am sure will listen and may help address the website issue of Davao. All the garbage polluting the Davao tourism (!) website portal is unacceptable.
Good job Bob!
Gerry
Hi Steven – I can't say that I am down on the Philippines as much as you appear to be. Many of the things that you rate as terrible I actually find to be OK. For example, services. I suppose what kind of services you are looking at, but many personal services are first class here. I admit, though, in many areas you are right on, or things are headed toward what you say. Still, though, I enjoy my life here, despite some of the downsides.
Hi Gerry – Yes, no problem if you would like to forward this to your friend. It is my sincere hope that this situation can be cleaned up and kept that way. It is my understanding that the Davao City site was cleaned up last year, but again nobody is monitoring the site again, and it has gone back to being trashy again.
Will do Bob. I just can't imagine with all the computer graduates the Phil produces, Davao should afford to hire somebody police their website.
Gerry
Oh I see, you found the girl LOL Good! Nice to be back. You are right I do tend to blow things up a bit. You have not let the Philippines get to you as it has me in some of the negative context. Anyway on the subject. I would ask you to tell me why someone would travel in many cases 10,000 miles to come to a country like this. I mean if you were in charge of tourism how would you make the case.
I might even suggest that since you do such a good job with your sites that you make the case for re-doing theirs. You have a vested interest in the country and in a sense you are a long term yourist in a way with all the traveling you do around and you know marketing so you'd be a natural.
Hi Gerry – My feelings exactly.
Hi Steven – No, I didn't find the girl, just put 2 and 2 together on my own. I'm OK about everything for now, but as you might understand, I'll be keeping an eye on the situation.
The truth about tourism to the Philippines is that really about the only people who come here from abroad are foreigners who are married to local ladies. It they were not married to Filipinas, they would not come. It is a tough situation for the Philippine government to face, and will take decades to turn around, if it can be done at all.
I have been thinking that I would like to help the Government straighten out their tourism websites, but to be honest, I doubt that they would accept my help. If the right person who has authority in this area reads this, I would welcome any inquiry, because I would like to be a part of getting Philippine Tourism promotion on the right track.
Hi Bob,Its quite unbelievable really as the govt are always trying to play down the perceived image of Sex tourism.If they really want to clean up the perception you think they would be on the ball with a moderator to delete such Spam,it aint that difficult to do.However i always get the impression that the internet is never really taken that seriously in PI.BTW Malaybalay City had their own site once,its now been down for the past 18 months,unbelievable,regards Chas.
Hi Bob,
I don't know if it will do any good but I sent the following email to WOWPinoy.
"Dear Sirs,
I am sure that your intent is to encourage tourism by displaying all the wonderful things the Philippines has to offer.
However, The Forums section of the WOWPinoy website is disgusting! If you want to give foreigners a good impression of the Philippines, you need to
get rid of the forum section or assign a moderator to police it. It is full of nasty, pornographic material that does nothing but make your country look terrible.
I like to tell my friends about how nice it is to travel to the Philippines, but this type of material makes me embarassed to even mention that I like to go there!
I would like to retire there someday and want to be proud of my choice.
Please help promote your country in a positive way by removing these disgusting posts from your website.
Sincerely,
*************
A concerned foreigner"
Bob you make some amazing accurate points with this post. Its ironic and sad but one of the tourism features that the Philippines is known for world wide is its porn industry. I did a google search for Angelas City to see what I would find after reading your conversation today and guess what I found ? You guessed it. Bob I encourage you to contact them-you could fix it and I know you would do a great job.
Hi Bob – A pinoy pare made an observation to me that, at the time, I thought strange coming from a Filipino. Now, I wonder. He said that, for the most part, his countrymen can learn how to do things, but not why. ❓
I guess it's one thing to build a web site, and another (foreign) thing to run it. 🙁
Hi chasdv – I could not agree with you more. The Philippine Government is always on a mission to go after pedophiles, stop sex tourism and such, and yet they seem to be promoting it on their tourism site! Frankly, it makes me ill.
I have a related experience to share about another website that created a problem for me as a visitor to the Philippines. When I first came to Davao in May of 2008 I went to the website of the Consular General in Vancouver to find out about obtaining a visa. They have a contact page where you can inquire by email. The only problem was they never replied to several emails over quite a lengthy period of time. They also did not return any of the phone messages I left and there is no option to speak to someone directly about a tourist visa. In the end I made the trip to Vancouver from Victoria to go in person and then was delt with quite promptly. For my second trip I tried again and the same thing happened. This time when I went to the office in person I told them of my difficulty and the reply was that they were too understaffed to answer the emails. I suggested they should then pull the contact page or place a warning of the possible length of time to recieve a reply. I have never recieved a reply to any of my inquiries there by email.
Hi Mark C. – Long time no see! I hope you are doing well!
I like your letter. I hope that some attention will come from it! Good work there, Mark.
Hi Ron LaFleur – Indeed there is a lot of irony here. I am quite sure what you found with your Google search, there is just not much doubt about that. What a shame!
Hi Paul – Wow. There is a lot of meaning, and irony in what you were told from your Pare. It makes me feel sad to read that, but then when you look at the example I brought forward this morning you can only feel that there is some truth there. I like to think it is more of a coincidence, though. Sad, sad, sad…..
Hi David Blanks – Yes, very true! We have actually discussed this many times here on LiP. One of our writers, Dave Starr, is particularly active in this subject. The Philippine Government and businesses here just don't answer e-mails! It is amazingly sad that it works that way. As you suggested, why even put it on the website? For that matter, why even have a website at all!
Hi Bob,
Quite frankly, I do not search for other websites regarding tourism to the Philippines. Since I discovered LiP, I only come here to further my knowledge of visiting and/or living there. Oh, I've heard the negative stories of coming there, but I still find it a fascinating country. Probably the only other online source I visit to learn about tourism is a site you're familiar with………….the Happy Slip website! So if the government can't get their act together to promote tourism in a professional fashion, we can always come to you for assistance. 🙂
Hi Bob! You were very very right about DOT's soooooo many websites. I follow their websites a lot and then I would just be surprised when they use another URL in another promotion or advert. Furthermore, the information in those sites especially tel numbers and even regional classifications are wrong! Very funny for a government site, a tourism info site at that. The only secretary that has brought some sense to DOT is Dick Gordon, my idol. He just brings everybody in the department to work hard and he actually listens to anybody who has a thing to say about the department or tourism. I will try to send this to the travel agents' associations so that they can talk to Sec. Durano about it.
Hi Henry – Thank you, I am happy for your support. While I am, of course, partial to LiP, the government really must take a leading role in promoting the country. At a very minimum they need to "do no harm" to the country, and by what is on their websites now, they are indeed harming the reputation of the country.
Hi Cathy – Yes, if the DOT would choose one website and stick with it they would be miles and miles ahead of where they are now. I also agree with you about Dick Gordon. Gordon is a man who has been successful in every role that I am aware of. An excellent Mayor, and in my opinion the best Secretary of Dept of Tourism that the country ever had. I hope that he goes on to larger and larger roles (hint, hint).
The spam is not related to the Philippines. It's the usual spam you get when the forum or guestbook is not spam protected. They are generated by spambots.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spambot
They should update their forum and have it spam protected.
Another classic that is typical in the Philippines and bad for tourism.
"sorry, out of stock sir"
In restaurants, hotels, shops. You name it. "sorry out of stock sir".
Hi Luc – I fully agree on how the spam is being generated, but that is no excuse for proper forum management. I have forum sites, so I know what can be done. You are right, they can do things to prevent most spam, but the final thing is that they need to have a human monitoring what is going on with their site. It only makes sense to do so.
Out of stock sir… oh yes… it is also damaging tourism, but that is a whole other story!
Good morning Bob. I think this is one of the invitations (apart from yesterday’s column) that you would probably feel uncomfortable..lol.. (to argue). I was not invited so consider me a ‘gate crasher’..he.he.he…but can’t help to give a little feedback on one of comments above.
Actually, it’s not surprising to read comments like the ones above in a lot of website forum concerning life in the Philippines. I just can’t comprehend how ‘Life in General’ in the Philippines ‘Relaxed’ if you find most of the stuff is terrible.
On the other hand, Dept. of Tourism has a lot of excellent promotion plans being implemented but the sad thing is they lack of operation and maintenance program to keep their projects consistent. They are only good or enthusiastic at the beginning.
Hi Teng – To be honest, I don't think I understand your comment properly. You seem to be saying that I find life in the Philippines to be terrible? That simply is not the case. It is Steven who said all those things are terrible, not me. Maybe I am just mis-understanding your comment???
Bob,
It all boils down to BUDGET. The DOT is probably next to the bottom of the money chain after the Depts of Health & Education. Unlike the other asian countries, Philippines is not heavily promoted as a tourist destination but thanks to the Travel Channel, Anthony Bourdain's visit to Manila will air this coming Monday @6pm PST. I am looking forward to that.
Great post, Bob, once again!
Hi raymond – Anthony Bourdain also visited Cebu last year, that will probably be covered in the same show, I bet.
I understand that budget is tight, but one employee to monitor these websites is not a hug expense. Also, even an existing employee spending 5 to 10 minutes an hour can do it at no added cost. If it cannot be paid for, then the websites should be taken down, because it would be better to not have a site at all compared to what is going on now.
Hi Bob,
Well, the best ideas sometime bear no fruit. I just got an automated reply to my email that "[email protected]" is not a valid address.
Integrity is doing the right thing regardless of the outcome; at least I have that.
It is interesting that there is a better chance that a change will be made though the LiP website than the WOWPinoy site itsself.
Mark C.
That’s soooo wrong what happen to our DOT website. Who could do such thing?
Hi Mark C. – Amazing. Contact us! Not a valid address? That is just as shameful as the topic that you wrote in about. Somebody needs to get the DOT act together!
Hi Ann – Nice to see you this morning! Yes, it is wrong what happened, but it is the job of the DOT to police their site and make sure that such things don't happen. For example, I am just an individual person, I have a lot of websites, and I monitor what is happening on my sites. From time to time these kind of things get posted to my sites, but they don't last long. Usually just a few minutes before I delete them. Why can't the DOT do the same?
this is simply part of the "maniana habit" that is prevalent across the land. They know that there is a problem, but they put it aside because it does not immediately equates to instant cash. It is definitely not very user friendly and I've visited and commented on the site and many sites in the Philippines and received ZERO response. I am starting to think that they are ignoring me because the people reading the suggestion/comments section think that I am one of those people who think they know everything… yet is living away (read: abroad) from the problem.
This is part of the many problems that can be solved in a very simple yet cost effective manner, but are just simply being ignored. There are many more Filipino-run websites that suffer from major "neglect", I was once online shopping for an appliance for a relative back home and visited ABENSON's website and the site just didn't do what it was meant to do… SELL! It seemed like I was talking to a person who was standing on a kiosk holding a sign that says "FOR SALE"… but no info, nothing and it gets frustrating.
Sorry, this topic really flipped a switch and I really feel your frustration too Bob because I know how passionate you are about your adopted home. You are and many other comments are spot-on on the notion that any foreigner looking to vacation in the tropics does not even consider the Philippines unless they are marrying a Filipina.
I have forwarded this website to 2 of the websites that I have left comments for and also to the WOWPhilippines site to let them know that the world speaks ONLINE now.
Great post Bob.
It’s 6pm here, & I’m cooking dinner. Btw, that’s the only thing different in US & ‘Pinas is when sending a porno thru government site it’s deleted automatically.
I think DOT needs to hire you Bob, so you can monitor these types of activities. (Lol just my thought) 🙂
Hi Bob, I was trying not to mention names. It's Steven I was feedbacking.
Hi Obei – Thank you for your obviously passionate feelings on this topic. Unfortunately, I know that everything you say is true in regards to website operations in the Philippines. You know… it makes me think… Many people say that in terms of infrastructure and such, the Philippines is 50 years behind. With the emergence of the Online world, the Philippines has an opportunity to be at the front of the pack, or at least in the current times. However, it seems that the country is intentionally falling behind in this realm too. Sad, but true.
Hi Ann – Actually, others have told me that the DOT should hire me to maintain their websites. I would do it too, if we could arrive to an agreement. I doubt that they would be interested, though.
Enjoy your dinner!
Hi Teng – Got you… Sorry for being too dense! 😆
You know Bob, I have been to the Philippines three times now, and I will be going back again this May. And I will admit the only reason I traveled there in the first place in 2007 was to meet my Filipina fiancee. I have had some issues but nothing I could not deal with. I will say before my flight my family was trying to convince me not to go…why, there are pick pockets, you will get kidnapped, it’s a third world country, you will get taken advantage of, there is a sex trade there, and it’s full of terrorists…I said so, I’m form NY. Then I found your website LiP, and I knew from what I read it’s not as bad as they say. Well, I have had wonderful experiences in the Philippines. I have traveled within the country and have had no major problems. I have been to Boracay also,and had a great time with the family. But the tourism promotion websites hurt and make me Ill as well. It’s so much better then that
Hi Frank – "It's so much better than that…." I could not agree more! The Philippines is better than what any of those tourist sites tell you. In some ways it is worse too. For example, when you go to the websites you see all these world class beaches and such. They exist, but that is not what the Philippines is all about in my opinion. What if the DOT promoted the Philippines as "What American USED to be….." promoting the kindness, the old home feeling, etc. There are lots of places with beaches, but they could make the Philippines unique by just promoting it for what it is!
I hate to be negaive as well, but could it be because the folks at the Department of Tourism can't make (or pocket) any money from this website that they don't maintain it? Mean statement, but I think there is some truth to it.
Hi Aldel – I totally disagree. Let me put it like this… this website (LiP) makes enough money that I can support my family on it. So, I can do it, but the Dept of Tourism can't? That is impossible. If they brought in only an extra 100 tourists per year to the country the site would be paid ten times over.
If what you project is correct and the DOT website cannot earn money for the country, they really should just take it offline, and move on to other things.
Bob, the government folks don't think the way we do. I understand the benefits to the country and the people if they do it the way we're used to. I am talking about the people directly associated with the DOT not having any DIRECT financial windfall or stake in this and other similar websites.
Hi Aldel – ha ha.. you are right on target there. No doubt. That also plays in to corruption where Government employees are looking for a personal direct benefit from their actions. 😯
Yes Bob, I totally agree…”by just promoting it for what it is!”
Hi Frank – It would certainly be unique! 😀
Bob: What strikes me is how inexpensive a fix could be… Budget really is not an excuse. A striking comparison is the job that Malaysia's department of tourism produces… Very slick commercials, a great slogan (Malaysia, truly Asia), and bona fide helpful responses to inquiries. Poverty cannot be an excuse, since many parts of Malaysia are truly poor. Indeed, the country was little more than a dumpy jungle backwater as recently as 20 years ago, so it can be done. In my opinion, the Philippines has at least as much to offer, if not more, than Malaysia. As to sex tourism, that is a problem all over Asia… Not just the Philippines. (Been to Macao recently?) Unfortunately, as long as there is a demand, the supply will continue.
My sense is that this situation results from politics and corruption more than anything else. If those at the top had incentive to make it happen, it would happen. Unfortunately, any time you have people in jobs they cannot lose, no matter how bad they screw up, things will not change. Those at the top should be grateful to you for pointing things out, rather than angry.
Hi JohnM – Yeah, I understand about sex tourism, it will probably never be stamped out. However, that does not mean that the Government itself should allow porn spam on it's official website! I agree with you fully on Malaysia – they are miles ahead of the Philippines in terms of tourism promotion.
Bob: You are right… they shouldn't allow it. There really is no excuse for it being there… I cannot think of a single viable excuse at all. Unfortunately, things like this can undo whatever little good the millions of pesos already spent may have accomplished in a second.
Hi JohnM – I agree – no excuse! And, it's so easy to fix.
Maybe someone is paying someone to use those sites ., so they don't keep them updated and running clean ,, You just never know ?… And as far as porn goes we have alot here too ..Just not on the Penn Dot web site …. Phil n Jess
Hi Phil – Yeah, I kind of doubt that you would ever go to the Official US State Dept site and find porn there. 😯 Porn is everywhere in the world, but it doesn't belong on a Government owned and operated website.
Hi Bob
I agree with a lot of what has been voiced above with regard to the lack of maintainence of sites. I have found several sites for individual local governments with broken links and out of date information, by years in some instances. It seems that websites are available on request for government departments. It's a pity to see them left like this as a lot of those sites would be the first stop for tourists or visitors to get information on a particular place, like I have often done. I say cut down on the quantity and take care of the quality.
Hi Jack – As Ford says in their advertising – Quality is JOB 1.
About 5 years ago I had one of the top sites on direct sales in the World. I had about 30,000+ unique visitors a month and perhaps 1/2 a million page views monthly as well and affiliateship sales up the wazoo. I unfortunately my 75,000 newsletter mail list got hacked and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Never came back the same. Oh well. Anyway, there is a pile of money to be made promoting this place if done correctly specifically to two distinct markets: ex-pats and tourists. Having two sites that are literally a one stop place to go about anything having to do with the Philippines (living and visting). Listing of everything under the sun. Supported by advertising, click thrus to google, and things you already do ie: gifting, load sales, etc… Just on a much bigger level. You would own the market. A huge task but with your manpower something achievable. If anyone is set up to do it, it is you and you could be set-up for life and you chilldrens children would be set as well.
Hi Steven – It's funny that you should say what you did, because just this morning, this article had me thinking in much similar terms. This site, LiP, is primarily geared toward Living in the Philippines (obviously), although tourism issues do sneak in from time to time. I was thinking this morning that I should set up a sister site focused on tourism. As you say, I believe that I could establish a strong position in the market with the two sites, and serve many needs.
It's something I may pursue.
Hi Bob,
When it comes to websites and government agencies, it seems there is always a budget to get a site up, but never a budget to keep it running. I think that once they find out they need more manpower to maintain the site, many departments conveniently turn a blind-eye. Too bad, because so much of the world relies on electronic communications, marketing, etc.
Just my two centavos!
Cheers!
Hi Martin – I hear you, and I believe that you are correct when you say how the government people. However, as I pointed out earlier, just one employee spending 5 or 10 minutes a few times per day would be enough to solve the problem.
Yes Bob, do that! Come up with a sister site w/c is tourist oriented. It's not only an oppurtunity for you to help but to expand as well. But pls don't concentrate on DVO!
Kudos too Mark C who took concrete steps to call the attention of that DOT. This agency has always been a problem. The tenure of Sec of Tourism should not be co-terminus with his chief executive, among other things, so there's continuity of projects.
Travel in the Philippines? Play golf here because Steven says it's cheap.
Hi Roy – Thank you for your encouragement. I agree, if I were to go after such a site, I could not and would not feature one part of the country, but equally feature every part of the country.
Hi,
I have passed on the link to your site to a Filipina I know who works in the DOT. I've had asker to read the column and reply and maybe pass it on to her superiors. I tried it once before on one of your tourism columns and didn't get much of a reply. Maybe too afraid of her bosses, or afraid of losing her job.
The tourism site is a good idea, and you could have the readers and tourists comment on tourism places they have visited, comment on the accomodation, etc. With all your readers, we have probably covered all 7001 islands!
Maybe DOT/wowpinoy is ignoring all those posts because they are in the "Activities" Thread. Ok I know bad joke.
I must sat straight off the bat, I love living in the Pines. Having said that, it is hard to be honest about the country without criticizing it.
The Pines has huge travel potential. It truly is a beautiful cuntry with a lot to offer. But the Pines just lacks education, experience and the capital needed to make a tourist here happy. How do I know this? Well I had the luxury to travel to many parts of the country, taking my fiance with me.
When I travel Mr Tourism Minister , I like hotels that have clean CRs, clean beds, food that is available everyday, credit card facilities. When I walk down the street I don't want a face full of diesel smoke in my face, or to walk in dirty water……ah forget it I been living here too long, its all too hard lol.
Mr Minister just ask for budget for you to travel OS and your eyes will truly open.
Just one question Mr Minister, is the earth still flat?
Sorry about the last line its my Aussie humour, i temporally lost it lol
Just one more thing Mr Minister, get the ship operators to clean up your CRs, not fit fpr pigs………….more later.
Hi John in Austria – Thanks for passing this along. We'll see if any changes are made.
By the way, if we have 7001 islands, we'll still be missing 106! There are 7,107 Islands in the country! 😆
Hi Steven – Ha ha… Amazing Activities in the Philippines.
Hi Pete – Not sure how long you have been living here, but I've been here 9 years, and I can understand everything you say. Like you, I love living here, and have adjusted to most of the things that require adjustment. But, if you really have your eyes open, you can't help but notice the deficiencies.
Hi Bob
I think that some of your readers who have been in the Philippines too long need to visit the US for a few days and then they would appreciate what they have in the Philippines.
Hi Dan Mihaliak – It can go both ways, my friend. Those of you on the US side of the big pond would probably appreciate a thing of two if you stay here long term. There are good things on both sides of the ocean, and bad too. Overall, I like it here better, though. 😀
Well I agree with both Pete and Steven, sure you can fix a web site, but what are you promoting, if you have got a handle on how the system works in this country you would know the top 100 familys control over 90% of the wealth, and their very happy with the place just as it is, I have lived in Manila for 5 yrs and am currently in Cebu, and rest assured my head is not buried in the sand as some casual visitors,
Having not looked at the website mentioned here yet, my experience in other forums ( and there are thousands of them ) in the USA, UK and the Philippines I can fully visualize from the descriptions given here what that forum must appear like. SImilar things have happened to friends of mine who had forums but could not keep them up, so they eventually shut down the forum sections of their website. A forum attached to a newspaper website in Caagayan De Oro shut its forum down after a while because it could not keep up in monitoring " off color " posts people were putting on it. A shame too as I used to enjoy that forum.
Although the Internet and other improvements in todays communication world have far surpassed earlier forms of communication, many times when all else has failed the wrtiien letter mailed through the postal system ( remember those ? ) can bring a response and results. Yes, this has worked for me in many situations including written and " snailmaled " from me to The Philippines.
My opinion on the forum being discussed here, if the website operator does not have the time, know how or desire to monitor their tourism forum, just shut it down. In a case like this, no impression ( from a forum ) is better than a bad one.
Another expereince I have had with many ( but not all ) forums is that they come on with a big bang with hundreds of posts, a multitude of topics, etc. and then after what seems a short while they just go stale ( little or no action ). Some of the first Philippine forums I enjoyed I must have found as they were dying out as it seemed a few months after I found them they were gone, no new posts, no new replies, no new topics.
I am under the impression that these days it has become a lot easier and possibly less costly for just about " anyone " to establish and operate a website for just about anything. I think what a lot of website originators and operators do not anticipate at first is the amount of time involved in " maintaining " a website as it grows. It is not a " set it and forget it " operation.
I'll take a look at the Philippine National Tourist website when I get a chance and if I can find a Postal Address I may just be inclined to wrote them a letter, not an e mail or a comment on their website. Many websites that have a " contact " page for people to contact them never seem to be answered.
With all of the Philippines websites I have looked at in the past 3 years, interesting I never happened to view the one for National Tourism, but then again I was not interested in visiting on a " national " basis as I knew where I wanted to go and concentrated on that part of the country.
I am sure I not only speak for myself when I can say that I really appreciate the amount of time and effort Bob Martin puts into his online websites and operations. Sure it is a business for him and he derives his living from it but I have seen a lot of other business or income related sites go the way of the site that is the subject of this article. Thanks for your efforts Bob Martin your sites have always been a pleasure to visit.
Hi Ian S – No doubt that the top families control the country. That said, there are still good things in the Philippines. If there were none, why would you choose to live here?
Hi Bob New York – Thanks for your comment. You are right, operating a website is dirt cheap these days – almost free if you want it to be. A government entity, though, should be policing it. As you say, if they can't get it right, just shut it down.
Hi Bob, I might be late with my comment. As you remember, we talked about this topic already last weekend, when we met. I can only congratulate you for this post – because it was really very very necessary since long time to open many peoples' eyes. The main problem with many government websites; no monitoring. I hope and wish your article will change something!
Hi Klaus – I hope that it does get cleaned up, and soon.
Hi bob,
I don't think whoever owns the website is aware of spams in their website's forum, even if they are, i think the main problem is maintaining those website rather than allowing people to post such thing, Lack of dedicated webmaster and forum moderator is the main culprit, one of the thing i could think of is and most likely is lack of budget to hire a personnel just to maintain it either there is a budget but pocketed, or they treat the website with low priority and set aside little budget for it. (just enough to keep the domain name and web hosting)
just my opinion.
Hi dans – Yes, what you are suggesting is exactly what I said too. They don't give priority to have a person monitoring. They don't need a full time person either. Just one person who can spend 10 or 15 minutes a few times a day could manage this. That is cheap. An existing employee could do this and no additional money is needed.
And as well as failing to promote good tourism to the Philippines, material of the kind you mention will attract some very BAD tourism, and bring people there who will do harm for sure.
Hi jonaky – Exactly correct! They are promoting it to bring in the wrong kind of people.
Hey Bob, i am new to your blog. But cenrtainly agree most of your woos about things said in your above notes above. It is really a shame that they could not better improve those sites. I myself is planning on retiring in the Davao someday. Will be visiting again this year, still contemplating if August would be a good time to come. I understand month of August is rainy season? or maybe Typoon in Manila? Thanks.
Hello to Feyma, your better half, and the kids!
Hi megre3 – Davao doesn't really have a rainy season. This far south, the weather tends to remain pretty consistent through the year. August is a good time to visit Davao, because that is when the Kadayawan Festival is, and you are sure to enjoy yourself!
Hi Bob ,
I too am always amazed at how a countries tourism department can't seem to maintain their sites properly but in my experience it's not just the Tourism Department .
The majority of the time i have trouble with almost all Philippine Web Sites in one form or another whether it's an airline site or a tv schedule page , etc . Usually the site is outdated or experiencing some sort of maintenance issue .
Here in Cagayan De Oro there are power shut downs for maintenance issues . 🙂 So i am wondering how much of it has to do with budget and how much is related to the cultural aspect of " if it ain't broke don't fix it " , or in this case a lack of preventive maintenance ?
Have had both IT people setting up gov. networking computer systems as well as people involved in getting power systems on line that all say the same thing . That there seems to be a quirky attitude here in regards to the need to maintain things to operate properly over the long haul . Maybe gets back to the cultural mindset of thinking short term versus long term ?
Interesting discussion… About seven years ago, I was disappointed with the existing tourism promotion for Bohol (Nothing serious really, Tagbilaran had two competing tourist offices (city and provincial), the city tourism office having some hotel brochures. The officials at the provincial office where reading newspapers, and handed out a few more brochures.
I decided to run out my own, registered bohol.ph, and run it from my computer here in the Netherlands since…, giving it more or less attention as time and other activities permit. Keeping spam out and responding to forum inquiries is an hour work per week. Nothing the province would not be able to organize, given a small budget. The site has about 4000 visitors daily, but 75% of these are from the Philippines, and of the remaining 25%, about half are overseas Filipinos.
All the trouble of keeping information up-to-date, hotels and other businesses not responding to email inquiries (hint: use a phone), etc. apply.
Hi!
So I feel like I am a bit unusual indeed. Having been travelling around Mindanao 2 times in just more than year! Without having a wife there!
I checked the Davao forum link and it is really terrible! So sad. Good to bring this topic up!