MANILA, Philippines – The Tourist Assistance Call Center of the Department of Tourism (DOT) will remain “active and live” during the Holy Week break, as it anticipates a surge of travellers who will visit the Philippines’ various tourist destinations, the DOT said on Tuesday.
The DOT also said that concerns in Mandarin Chinese may now be addressed by call center agents speaking the same language, in addition to English, Korean and Filipino speaking call center agents, since the establishment of the call center in October 2023.
"We have already launched the Korean-speaking call center agents, and very recently we have also [already] launched the Mandarin-speaking call center agents," said DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, at the sidelines of an inter-agency inspection at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on April 10, 2025.
Mandarin-speaking tourists can talk directly to dedicated Tourist Assistance Call Center agents who speak Mandarin, available Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Philippine Standard Time), the DOT stated.
Based on data from the DOT, China ranked sixth out of 164 countries and territories in the Philippines’ sources of inbound travellers with 72,665 in the first three months of this year.
According to the DOT, Chinese tourists are also the sixth top visitors in the Philippines based on nationality at 73,013 from January to March 2025.
Courtesy of Department of Tourism (DOT)
The Tourist Assistance Call Center was recognized as Best in Service – Customer Support (Regional Level) award at the prestigious Asia Best of Best Awards 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the DOT shared.
"With a total of four languages already available, the Department of Tourism's Tourist Assistance Call Center aims to fulfill a key objective of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023 to 2028, which is to enhance the overall tourist experience in the Philippines," Frasco pointed out.
"Our call center is also dedicated to deliver accessible, efficient, and world-class service to all tourists, both domestic and international, aligned with the goal of a digitally empowered government envisioned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” she added.
The DOT has already received an estimated 14,000 calls from 72 countries, according to Secretary Frasco.
Information on DOT-accredited establishments and other travel and tourism advisories, as well as real-time assistance in case of emergency and referral to concerned government agencies, are available at the Tourist Assistance Call Center.
Aside from the hotline 151-TOUR or 151-8687, inquiries on travel to the Philippines to the DOT can be sent through mobile at +63 954-253-3215, via email at [email protected], through Facebook Messenger at Department of Tourism – Philippines, and via the Click2Call and Live Webchat services available on beta.tourism.gov.ph.
