Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 4, No. 4, November 2016 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 69 P-ISSN 2350-7756 | E-ISSN 2350-8442 | www.apjmr.com DESIGNS MATTER: Delivering Information Sources for Tourism Margie A. Nolasco 1 , Jonathan Dela Cruz 2 Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST) 1 margieanolasco@gmail.com, 2 jonathan@biscast.edu.ph Date Received: July 8, 2016; Date Revised: September 1, 2016 Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Vol. 4 No.4, 69-74 November 2016 P-ISSN 2350-7756 E-ISSN 2350-8442 www.apjmr.com Abstract - Tourism has benefits not just for travelers, but also to the local economy. Since, Bicol Region has natural and cultural attractions; it is a potential travel destination in the country. Technology in delivering information sources played vital role for the success of the tourism industry in the Region. This allows travel enthusiasts to get more information about various tourist attractions. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of delivering information sources such as web advertisement and desktop publishing for tourist promotion in the Bicol Region. Specifically, it determined the status of tourism, and identified common forms of promotions for tourism development. The study adopted mixed method of research. This method was utilized to confirm and validate findings. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather data from the respondents of the selected Local Government Units, Department of Tourism, Travel Agencies and Hotel Agents in the Region. Based on the findings, of the total foreign visitors in the country, only 9.14% visited Bicol Region in 2014. That is why, domestic tourist showed high percentage against foreign visitors with 25.7%. Brochures with EZ maps as most commonly used desktop publishing materials and websites and social media for web advertisement. Thus, there is a need to reevaluate promotional activities by the DOT and other agencies. Adoption suggestive features for creative desktop publishing materials and web services should be considered to increase tourist visitors in the Region. Keywords: tourism, promotion, desktop publishing, web, travel destination INTRODUCTION Tourism industry is another source of income for Bicol Region. One of the government agencies important to the success of tourist promotion is that of Local Government Units (LGUs). These LGUs play major role in community development, address community’s problems and concerns, enforce policies, hold influence over their communities, and provide the links between the people and government, [1]. Provincial LGUs have the capacity to deliver sources of information from the different tourist destinations in the region to the different parts of the world. Technology shows a primary role in tourist promotion. It allows people to get more information about various tourist destinations and cultures. Its natural and cultural attractions of Bicol can be potential travel destinations in the country. Among the more popular sites are the gentle “butanding” whale sharks of Donsol, the "perfect cone" Mayon Volcano of Albay, the popular Cam Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) in Camarines Sur and other amazing and pristine tourist destinations. There are also a lot of fiestas and festivals in the Bicol Region happening in the year, most fiestas and festivals in the region are religious in origin and Filipino hospitality is more evident at festival time. These beautiful nature, culture and preserved traditions seek to boost tourism, expand business and provide livelihood opportunities that have positive impact to the tourism industry and to the local economy. The source of information about a specific destination is an important means of promotion for the tourism industry [2]. The sources of information for various tourist destinations like desktop publishing (brochures, flyers, and the like) and web advertisement (websites, social media and the like) play its vital role on the success in the Region’s tourism. Recent reviews indicate that as the tourism industry matures it becomes smarter, more adaptable, and takes its own trajectory by departing from the institutional norms of non-tourism organizations in the community [3].Thus, tourism can be an option for the region's present economy because foreign arrivals are increasing. It is not just from its pristine tourist