CEBU – The Cebu provincial government signed an agreement with Smart Communications, Inc. and Cebu-based InnoPub Media formalizing the roll-out of its Digital Tourism Project here.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III signed the deal with SMART Senior Manager for Public Affairs in the Visayas, lawyer Maria Jane Paredes, and InnoPub Co-Founder Max Limpag, and Cebu Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera.
Davide said the project will help make tourists’ visit in the province more convenient. “They don’t have to bring with them maps or books about Cebu anymore,” he said, adding the digital tourism utilizes mobile technology to deliver timely, accurate, and relevant information on tourism, cultural, and historical information of Cebu.
Interactive markers will also be set up in identified tourist spots bearing quick response codes and near field communication chips which visitors can scan using their smartphones and this will trigger the download of information about the tourist site.
“By providing tourists with context and correct information with relevant information will make their visit much more meaningful and memorable, and they will hopefully keep coming back,” Limpag said.
He said under the project, free ebooks and mobile apps will be produced to serve as tourism guides. “Printed guidebooks are expensive, and also they are limited in the sense that a limited space is allotted for some places because of the limited number of pages,” Limpag explained.
The ebooks, he said, will contain relevant information about Cebu, including hotel accommodations and restaurants, among others.
Limpag said the digital tourism project will provide more information about local tourist sites and destinations.
The mobile guide contains a portable directory of service providers accredited with the Department of Tourism or local governments and other information. The digital tourism project was first implemented in Carcar City, Argao, and Boljoon.
It is now currently being deployed in Boljoon, Oslob, Samboan, and Santander and the project is set to be expanded to cover other areas in Cebu.
Davide also posted on his Facebook account this entry: “#Cebu Get your QR scanner ready! Visit www.cebu.gov.ph/socialmedia to access links. Scan this QR Code on your iOS, Android, Windows or Blackberry phone to visit the website straight on your mobile. Cebu is #unified! Spread the word.” (Rachelle Nessia)
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