Department of Tourism cuts ties with McCann Group

The Department of Tourism issued a statement saying they have discontinued their partnership with McCann WorldGroup Philippines after their project “Experience The Philippines” was criticized by netizens saying the ‘Sight’ ad was a copied version from a South African tourism video.

Here is the official statement:

“AFTER A DILIGENT REVIEW OF THE AD MATERIALS IN QUESTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM (DOT) HAS DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH MCCANN WORLDGROUP PHILIPPINES.

IN THE MIDST OF THIS CONTROVERSY, THE DOT EXPECTS A PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM MCCANN OVER THE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVING, OWING TO THE GLARING SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MCCANN’S “SIGHTS” AD AND SOUTH AFRICA’S AD RELEASED IN 2014.

WE ALSO WISH TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL REOPEN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A NEW ADVERTISING MATERIAL WHICH WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT SLOGAN…“IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES”.

THUS, WE ENCOURAGE THOSE WITH FRESH AND ORIGINAL IDEAS THAT WILL SHOWCASE OUR DIVERSELY-RICH TOURIST DESTINATIONS AND THE UNIQUE FILIPINO HOSPITALITY TO JOIN THIS VENTURE.”

(Photo source: Youtube screengrab – @Tourism Philippines)