Globe Telecom and the Department of Tourism, through its Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), strikes deal anew—promote the Philippines as Asia’s perfect tourist spot through the Visit the Philippines Again or VPA campaign this 2016.

Special SIM for Foreign Tourists and OFWs

In this renewed partnership, Globe gives away free Globe Traveler (GT) SIMs this year to tourists and Balik-Bayan OFWs in the country who number by the millions. Being affordable in the long run and reportedly with “worry-free” connectivity, tourists can now find more fun in the Philippines and get connected more easily with family and friends.

Globe is said to be TPB’s first telecom partner to offer reasonably priced communication services to tourists through the GT SIM. This is prepaid SIM locally available for cheap rates designed for calls, mobile data and SMS services.

To get a free GT SIM, interested parties simply need to present their passports or OFW E-Cards at the Globe booths in NAIA, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, and Clark International Airport.

Video Challenge

Moreover, Globe is launching another campaign dubbed, “Relive Wonderful Philippines.” It’s a video competition offered to non-local-resident tourists and OFWs, highlighting why participants love the country and find more fun in it—and especially what they plan to do here. The winning entry gets a free ticket for two when they return to the Philippines to a destination of their choice, with free lodging accommodation and allowance, courtesy of Globe.

This video contest will help boost the tourist industry further in the country, especially when contest participants, and recipients of the free SIM, post their compositions on social media to brag them to friends. This definitely gives both the Globe SIM product and the tourism industry a promotional and exposure boost worldwide.

Burgeoning Business through the Tourist Industry

According to Globe, their data showed how GT SIM usage registered 90 percent of the SIM’s users came to the Philippines from other countries, foremost of which were China, Korea and Singapore. This was recorded from August to November in 2015. Most of the users (some 97 percent of them) preferred data while 85 percent preferred local calls.

Data from the Department of Tourism, on the other hand, said a total of 2.6 million foreign tourists came to the country from January to June in the same year generating more than P111 billion.

More tourists are expected to come over from other countries and use GT SIM. “We are confident that more foreign travelers will choose to visit the Philippines over any other destination,” said Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III, COO for the TPB. He added how they confidently foresee more balik-bayans returning to the country this 2016.