The Department of Tourism and Grab Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday to improve travel connectivity between gateway hubs and various cities, as well as promote Philippine gastronomy.
In a statement, DOT and Grab said the latter will act as a digital tourism partner, tapping the superapp’s technology and vast network of highly engaged users across the country to modernize food tourism and improve inter-city travel across the Philippines.
“At Grab, our suite of safe, reliable, and convenient services is reshaping how people explore the destinations they visit – making it easier for travelers to reach both cultural highlights and hidden gems,” Grab Philippines Vice President for Cities CJ Lacsican said. “This partnership fuels tourism and creates multiplier effect growth for small businesses, from community restaurants to less explored attractions.”
DOT said that through this collaboration, the agency and Grab are shaping a more inclusive, tech-enabled future for Philippine tourism. “This partnership with Grab underscores our commitment to harnessing digital platforms to make Philippine tourism more inclusive, accessible, and future-ready,” Sharlene Zabala-Batin, DOT Assistant Secretary for Tourism Digitalization and Resource Generation, said.
“By smoothly integrating mobility and gastronomy into the travel experience, we are not only enriching how travelers discover our country, but also opening greater opportunities for small businesses and local communities that form the backbone of our tourism value chain,” she added.
Grab has embarked on widening access to local food culture through initiatives designed to complement the DOT’s gastronomy push.
Grab said its mobility reach now includes eight major airports nationwide, including Bohol, Cebu, and Davao.
