No ripoff: Ad agency defends new DOT campaign campaign

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) is under fire online following allegations that it copied the concept of its new video from a tourism campaign in South Africa.

Following Monday’s launch, netizens pointed to similarities between the one-minute video released by the DOT, which featured the experiences of a blind Japanese tourist while he was visiting different destinations in the country.

“Here, you don’t have to see the sun to discover radiance. You don’t have to see colors to experience vibrance. You don’t have to see smiles to know you are safe,” said the voice in the video, titled “Sights.”

“You don’t have to see to feel you are home,” it ended, revealing that the Japanese was blind.

A thread on discussion site Reddit noted similarities of the concept with the tourism campaign released by South Africa last year.

The video featured a man visiting different destinations and experiencing various activities in the African nation.

In the end, it was also revealed that he was blind.

Following criticisms over the alleged plagiarism, renowned marketing company McCann Worldgroup took full responsibility for the video and stood by its integrity.

“We acknowledge the feedback that the way this story was told may have similarities with the South African tourism campaign. It is unfortunate that the DOT has been called out and accused of plagiarism for work we have done to highlight the testimonial of a real retiree,” the company said in a statement.

“We take full responsibility as ALL ideas and storyboards presented were conceptualized by McCann Worldgroup Philippines. However, we underscore that there has never been any intention to copy others’ creative work,” it added.

McCann said the video was inspired by a real story of a visually impaired foreigner who has made the Philippines his home.

“In working with the DOT, we have been inspired by the many stories we have seen and heard, about why foreigners choose to visit the Philippines. Many of them have spoken about our innate warmth, the genuine friendships they have developed here, our hospitality that extends to a sense of family and the many reasons why it is the Filipino people that truly make it more fun in the Philippines,” read the statement.

“Our research has also shown that, of the millions of visitors who visit the Philippines, thousands of foreigners from over 100 countries have chosen to live and retire here,” it added.