The Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with Rakuten Viber to help accredited tourism micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) establish digital business accounts and communicate directly with travelers.
Tourism Secretary Maria Bernardita “Dita” Angara-Mathay and Rakuten Viber Senior Director for Asia-Pacific David Tse formalized the partnership through a memorandum of understanding that will make Viber Business Accounts available to DOT-accredited tourism establishments.
The initiative aims to help local businesses improve their online presence, provide travelers with direct communication channels and reduce the risk of scams involving fake tourism operators.
“Travelers should be able to find accredited establishments easily and with confidence,” Angara-Mathay said.
Under the agreement, Viber will organize MSME caravans at DOT regional offices to help accredited businesses set up free Viber Business Accounts. The accounts will provide business pages, secure messaging and calling functions, and promotional tools.
Businesses can also use Click-to-Chat QR codes, allowing travelers to initiate conversations directly with establishments. Viber will provide onboarding assistance and training free of charge to participating enterprises and the DOT.
The platform will also feature DOT-accredited MSMEs and tourism campaigns through its channels each month. The programs will be made available to accredited businesses on equal terms.
The DOT, meanwhile, will involve its regional and foreign offices in the partnership, connect Viber with tourism stakeholders, provide campaign guidelines and branding materials, and explore joint media campaigns, familiarization tours and tourism promotions.
The agreement also includes efforts to educate tourism businesses and travelers on responsible travel practices and ways to avoid scams.
“We are glad that Rakuten Viber is taking part in our efforts to keep local MSMEs and tourists safe,” Angara-Mathay said. She added that the partnership could help tourism businesses reach more customers and streamline their operations.
Tse said the initiative would give travelers additional ways to verify and communicate with accredited establishments.
“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,” he said.
The partnership also allows travelers to access ChatGPT features within the Viber app for trip-planning assistance.
The DOT said the tourism sector contributed P2.27 trillion to the Philippine economy and employed 7.7 million Filipinos in 2025. The country recorded 6.5 million international visitor arrivals during the year, a 0.8% increase from 2024, according to the Philippine Tourism Data Dashboard.
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