Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DoT) has launched its first-ever Hop-On-Hop-Off (HOHO) bus tour programme in Manila’s Cultural Hub tours.
The Cultural Hub will have nine stops comprising Robinsons Manila, Raja Sulayman, Rizal Park Luneta, National Museum, Malacañang Heritage Tours, City Hall, Escolta, Binondo, and Intramuros.
From an introductory price of 1,000 pesos (US$17.95) per pax, tourists can explore Manila one bus stop at a time, choosing from curated and DIY itineraries with the option for private and guided tours.
Leading the launch was tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who commented that the flagship programme elevates the tourism offerings of the country by providing convenience and digitalisation.
She added that tourists can “book through an app, curate their experiences, and travel at their own convenience”.
With the growing desire of travellers for more immersive experiences, the programme aims to “give opportunities to reintroduce Manila to our fellow Filipinos” and to attract “foreign tourists to this beautiful gem of a city” by introducing them to the Philippines’ heritage, culture, arts and “the story of the City of Manila”, shared Frasco.
She said the bus tours offer a hassle-free, seamless, contactless and convenient option, which will play a pivotal role in improving the tourism experience in Manila.
Citing the importance of developing Manila’s cultural aspect of tourism, city mayor Honey Lacuna said: “The Department of Tourism and the City of Manila curated the attractions to be visited and made sure that this initial run will truly reflect the character of our city. As HOHO progresses, we will make sure to incorporate other parts of our eight tourism hubs which is the core of our tourism development plan.”
Travellers can visit the dedicated HOHO website for more information, or download the mobile app which allows the users to book tours, make cashless payments, monitor bus arrivals, and more.
