DOT Removes 'Sights' Tourism Campaign Ad, Ends Contract With McCann Over Plagiarism Issue

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has decided to remove its tourism campaign video titled “Sights' on social media. This is after it was accused of being copied from a tourism ad for South Africa in 2014. The tourism department also ended its contract with McCann Worldgroup Philippines, the advertising agency that created the controversial video.

"After a diligent review of the ad materials in question, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has decided to discontinue its partnership with McCann Worldgroup Philippines," the DOT said in a statement, with DOT Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre appearing in a short press conference this Thursday, June 15, explaining the decision of the tourism department.

"In the midst of this controversy, the DOT expects a public apology from McCann over the negative feedback that the department has been receiving, owing to the glaring similarities between McCann's 'Sights' ad and South Africa's ad released in 2014," the DOT added, noting that the agency will bring back its old slogan, “It's more fun in the Philippines.



And although the controversial DOT ad has already been deleted, a side-by-side video comparison of the two videos was posted at Thinking Pinoy Facebook page. Here, it is very clear that both videos almost have the same video sequence. And more importantly, both of them featured a blind tourist, whose disability was only revealed at the end of the ad.

Earlier, both the DOT and McCann defended the said ad, noting that it was not copied from the South African tourism ad or any other ad. According to them, the 'Sights' ad, which was released on June 12, Independence Day is based on a real story of a blind Japanese retiree who stayed in the Philippines for a quite some time, and enjoyed his time.

As of posting, McCann has not yet commented on the decision of the DOT to suddenly end its contract with them. Meanwhile, Alegre emphasized that the department has not paid any single peso to McCann for the deleted ad, and has even plans to sue the advertising agency. He added that DOT is now open for new bidders for its new campaign ad.

Contributed by Salvi Dalida