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Leading communications platform Rakuten Viber and the Department of Tourism (DOT) are joining forces to strengthen the Filipino tourism and hospitality sector by equipping micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with digital capabilities that empower them to offer tourists a seamless and safe travel experience.
Tourism Secretary Maria Bernardita “Dita” Angara-Mathay and Rakuten Viber Senior Director for APAC David Tse marked the partnership with a formal signing of a memorandum of understanding. This includes making Viber Business Accounts available to DOT-accredited MSMEs so they can communicate easily and securely with travelers.
The collaboration aims to help local tourism MSMEs use Viber’s super app capabilities to provide visitors with an all-in-one travel experience. The partnership unlocks opportunities for MSMEs around the Philippines to leverage Viber Business Accounts that can further add credibility to their business by fostering strong relationships with customers. Having a presence on Viber also boosts the tourism sector by expanding the reach of these enterprises, making their goods and services more accessible to a wider audience.
To build trust in local businesses and safeguard travelers against scams, this initiative encourages DOT-accredited tourism enterprises to be onboarded onto Viber while educating both the business owners and travelers on responsible travel practices. Beyond utilizing Viber’s trusted, private, and secure calling and messaging functions to connect directly with tourism enterprises, travelers can also smoothly integrate ChatGPT features within the app to assist with trip planning.
Strengthening the tourism sector in the Philippines is important as the industry boosts local economy, creating a positive ripple effect in communities by generating jobs and other opportunities. According to the Philippine Tourism Data Dashboard, the Philippines received a total of 6.5 million international arrivals in 2025, which marked a 0.8% growth versus 2024. The sector contributed P2.27 trillion to the Philippine economy and employed 7.70 million Filipinos in 2025.
“Our partnership with Viber is part of our efforts to make tourism-related MSMEs across the country more competitive and adaptive to modern-day tourism demands,” said Sec. Angara-Mathay. “Travelers should be able to find accredited establishments easily and with confidence.”
“We are glad that Rakuten Viber is taking part in our efforts to keep local MSMEs and tourists safe. At the same time, we are confident that this partnership will help our tourism businesses connect with more customers and streamline their operations, in step with our Love the Philippines and Discover More to Love campaigns,” she added.
Under the MOU, the DOT will:
- engage its Regional and Foreign Offices in the partnership programs and link Rakuten Viber with local tourism stakeholders, such as travel agencies, tourism operators, and tourism associations;
- provide campaign guidelines and branding materials;
- explore joint media campaigns, familiarization tours, and tourism promotions with Rakuten Viber; and
- promote the partnership through its communication channels.
Rakuten Viber, for its part, will bring MSME Caravans to DOT Regional Offices to help accredited MSMEs set up free Viber Business Accounts. These give enterprises a business page to engage customers through secure messaging, calls, and promotional campaigns, while Click-to-Chat QR codes let travelers start a conversation with a business directly. Onboarding support and training will be free of charge to both the enterprises and the DOT. DOT-accredited MSMEs and DOT campaigns will be featured on Viber channels each month, and all programs will be offered to accredited MSMEs on equal terms.
“Rakuten Viber is committed to supporting initiatives that help curb and prevent scams in the Philippines. We are honored to work with the Department of Tourism by providing digital tools that make it easier for travelers to find and communicate with accredited tourism businesses,” said Tse. “We hope this initiative helps travelers make informed choices and encourages them to verify businesses before sharing payment or personal information for a smoother, more secure travel experience.”
As Tse emphasizes, ”Our ambition is not simply to connect more travellers with more destinations; it is to make every connection more trusted, every journey more reassuring, and every travel experience worth remembering.”
