Visiting Albay? Try app in smartphones

PLAYING WITH WAVES Children enjoy the cold water on the shore of Legazpi City’s Rawis District in Albay province on Easter Sunday.
MARK ALVIC ESPLANA/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

LEGAZPI CITY—A journey to Albay’s tourist attractions and historical sites begins not with a single step but a tap.

The province, along with Smart Telecommunications and InnoPub Media, has introduced “Albay Guide,” an app for android phones that features interesting places to go to in Albay in what seems to be a breakthrough move in digital tourism promotion to reach online viewers.

Dorothy Colle, head of the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, said that for tourism to develop, it must be made “accessible” or “within the click of the finger of persons who now mostly rely on their gadgets.”

The app has been available for downloading through Android platforms and IOS since Feb. 24, but will be formally launched on April 10.

It was devised to help Albay achieve its target of 1.6 million tourist arrivals—1 million locals and 600,000 foreigners—till 2016, Colle said. The figure was around 900,000 in 2013-2014, provincial records showed.

“Every year we are targeting at least 50 percent increase,” Colle said.

Among the app’s 12 icons is “Warm Albay,” showing the province’s history from the Spanish period to modern times, including the cultural influences in various phases.

“Top Attractions” features tourist spots, such as Mayon Volcano, Misibis Bay Resort and Casino and the Cagraray Eco Park in Bacacay town, Ligñon Hill and Embarcadero de Legazpi in Legazpi City, Vera falls in Malinao town, Kawa-kawa Hill in Ligao City, Joroan Church in Tiwi town, Danao Lake in Polangui, and the Japanese tunnels in Camalig town.

“Citadels of Faith” displays the history of old stone churches, such as Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral at Old Albay District in Legazpi, Our Lady of the Gate Church in Daraga town, Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Church in Tiwi, San Juan Bautista Church in Tabaco City, and St. Dominic Guzman Church in Santo Domingo town.

The mobile app also features different dining places with contact numbers of each restaurant and the areas where Bicol dishes and delicacies are served.

Tourists can get instant information on where to buy pasalubong (souvenir items) with information on location, unique products and the story behind these.

For accommodations and directions, they can click the icon of the town or city for the contact numbers of inns, pension houses, hotels and resorts.

Should there be an emergency, a directory or contact numbers of government offices, tourist assistance, tour operators and guides is provided.

The app also guides tourists on how to commute in the locality, describing the route of jeepneys, from the city center to the outskirts and other towns and cities.

A few Bicol words commonly used in conversations, along with English translations, are included.

After downloading, the app can be used even without an Internet connection, Colle said. “It is very informative and we are expecting for more increase in tourist arrivals,” she said.