Tours in Iloilo City have gone high-tech with tourist guide information now available online and accessible with just a click.
Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said the technology-generated information truly boosts tourism promotions in the metropolis where it is easy and convenient for tourists to know about the pride of the place and things to do during their visit.
The techie guide for must-see-and-try travel experiences are laid out in Discover Iloilo, a digital tourism project provided by telecom giant Smart Communications, Inc. and new media startup InnoPub Media.
Special markers containing quick response (QR) codes were placed in major heritage and tourism sites. When scanned with a phone or tablet, the QR codes trigger the download of related information.
The gadget needs to be connected to the Internet and have a QR code scanner, which can be downloaded for free in the phone’s application market.
The program includes a mobile guide to Iloilo which contains a list of places to go and things to try as well as helpful contact numbers. The guide can be accessed via phone scanning of special posters and standees at the airport, City Gallery and various establishments.
The mobile guide will be turned into a downloadable e-book for phones, tablets and e-readers in the coming weeks, and produced in partnership with Cebu Pacific.
It also includes a website that allows tourists to view an interactive map of places to go based on their locations. To view suggested areas, tourists need to turn on their gadget’s global positioning system or GPS, open myguide.ph and enable location sharing.
The QR code, e-guide, and online map projects started with Iloilo City and spread out to the rest of the province. QR codes and electronic guidebooks add to visitor experience by providing them relevant information about Iloilo’s historical, cultural, and other attractions.
Digital Tourism Project is a collaborative effort of city and provincial governments, Smart, InnoPub Media, and private sector partners.
