The Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with Grab Philippines to promote food tourism and improve travel connectivity across the country. In a recent contract signing event, the DOT has appointed the super app company as its Digital Tourism Partner.
The partnership aims to leverage Grab Philippines’s technology and extensive user base. DOT sees these as keys to modernizing the way locals and visitors experience travel and dining. The partnership centers on two priorities. These include elevating Philippine gastronomy as a strong driver of tourism and improving mobility between gateway hubs and regional cities.
Under the partnership, Grab Philippines will support DOT’s gastronomy campaign through programs that spotlight local dining spots and experiences. These programs include Grab Dine Out, which offers exclusive dine-in discounts to attract customers to popular and lesser-known restaurants. Grab Philippines also has GrabFood 5-Star Eats, a community-driven food guide that highlights homegrown food establishments. Moreover, the company’s GrabFood For One provides solo meal options starting at P150 with free delivery. These features make authentic food experiences available for budget-conscious travellers.
The collaboration also touches on mobility solutions aimed at making travel between destinations smoother. For this, Grab Philippines highlights its Advanced Booking feature, which allows users to schedule rides going to the airport up to 90 days in advance. According to Grab Philippines, this feature now covers key airport locations in Metro Manila, Bohol, Cebu, and Davao. Of course, GrabCar offers safe 4- and 6-seater rides to locations in and around cities.
“This partnership with Grab underscores our commitment to harnessing digital platforms to make Philippine tourism more inclusive, accessible, and future-ready. By smoothly integrating mobility and gastronomy into the travel experience, we are not only enriching how travelers discover our country, but also opening greater opportunities for small businesses and local communities that form the backbone of our tourism value chain,” shared Sharlene Zabala-Batin, DOT Assistant Secretary for Tourism Digitalization and Resource Generation.
For Grab Philippines’ part, its Vice President for Cities, CJ Lacsican, went on to say, “At Grab, our suite of safe, reliable, and convenient services is reshaping how people explore the destinations they visit – making it easier for travelers to reach both cultural highlights and hidden gems.”
