Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 9) – The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced on Friday its partnership with Grab Philippines in introducing a digital platform where users can book tour guides.
Under the GrabTours project, users who will book a tour guide will be directed to the roster, which can be found in the Grab app. DOT-accredited tour guides will also have access to Grab’s user.
The DOT National Capital Region clarified that Grab drivers will only provide transportation service, and will not serve as tour guides.
The pilot test of the platform will offer transportation from Sheraton Manila Bay, Okada and Solaire to Intramuros and Binondo. Grab users may approach the hotel’s concierge for inquiries.
The pilot date of the digital tour guide booking, however, has yet to be announced.
DOT, Grab, tour operators and travel agencies are also planning to incorporate digital bookings for tour packages and bookings through the app.
“Because of the convenience and connectivity provided by mobile applications, travelers and tourists have a wealth of options to book transport, travel, and the like,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a statement on Friday.
“It is incumbent upon us to introduce innovations and digitalization to the tourism industry so as to provide increased opportunities for our DOT-accredited stakeholders to also have access to millions of potential tourists already using digital platforms to travel,” she added.
