As part of the national government’s goal to make the Philippines a “tourism hub,” the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will provide free internet services in 94 major tourism areas in the country facing connectivity issues.
(MB Visual Content Group)
Working hand in hand with the Department of Tourism (DOT), DICT said some of the hindrances in promoting the country as a primary tourist destination are caused by issues on digitalization and connectivity.
“[Tourism] Secretary Frasco provided us initially with a list of 94 tourist destinations [with] connectivity challenges,” said DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy in a palace briefing on Tuesday, May 16.
This list will be the blueprint for the joint free Wi-Fi project. Uy, however, clarified that under the first phase of the said initiative, only 46 major tourism sites will initially be covered. These areas are mainly localities within the following provinces: Benguet, Palawan, Aklan, and Cebu.
The establishment of free Wi-Fi hotspots, according to Uy, would ensure that tourists will be able to grasp a “complete experience” while enjoying the Philippine tourism sites.
“Many of the tourists now are also vloggers. They vlog about their experiences while they are there experiencing or enjoying the tourism sites so it’s critical that we provide them with internet connectivity,” Uy added.
