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HOLY WEEK UPDATE: MANDARIN-SPEAKING AGENTS AVAILABLE AT DOT’S TOURIST ASSISTANCE CALL CENTER
Concerns in Mandarin Chinese may now be addressed by call center agents speaking the same language at the Tourist Assistance Call Center, announced the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The language is an addition to the English and Filipino speakers since the creation of the call center in October 2023, as well as Korean language speakers deployed since February 2025, said DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
“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 Secretary Frasco at the sidelines of an inter-agency inspection at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on April 10, 2025.
The Tourism Chief added the Tourist Assistance Call Center, with hotline 151-TOUR or 151-8687, would remain “active and live” during the Holy Week break, when the DOT anticipates a surge of travelers who will visit the Philippines’ various tourist destinations.
Previously, Secretary Frasco said more than 30 million combined local and international travelers are expected to arrive across Philippine destinations during the long break.
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).
They can also reach out to the DOT for their inquiries on travel to the Philippines through mobile at +63 954-253-3215, via email at touristassistance@tourism.gov.ph, through Facebook Messenger at Department of Tourism – Philippines, and via the Click2Call and Live Webchat services available on beta.tourism.gov.ph.
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.
The DOT has already received an estimated 14,000 calls from 72 countries, according to Secretary Frasco.
“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,” she pointed out.
The Tourism Chief added, “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.”
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).
Based on DOT’s data on visitor arrivals by country of residence as of April 1, 2025, China ranked sixth out of 164 countries and territories in the Philippines’ sources of inbound travelers with 72,665 in the first three months of this year.
Chinese tourists are also the sixth top visitors in the Philippines based on nationality at 73,013 from January to March 2025.
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Published:April 15, 2025
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