MANILA -- Hours after the Department of Tourism launched a promotional video in a new tourism campaign, social media users noticed its resemblance to the one released by South Africa in 2014 that went viral.

Both videos feature a blind man, who is experiencing the world through senses other than sight. In both tourism campaign videos, the man's disability is not revealed until the end when he pulls out a walking cane.

This striking similarity sparked questions among netizens.

So I guess our Experience the Philippines is the budget version of South Africa's? Sino nangopya bes? Char. https://t.co/phRLxVtrGl

— Ethel (@econcepcion) June 12, 2017

Did you like the new DOT ad? I like it. It's touching. But it's also unoriginal. It's copied from South Africa's. https://t.co/97hOfxq2EZ

— Millennial Brat (@PH_Millennial) June 12, 2017

In 2016, Tourism Quebec in Canada also released a promotional video starring a blind man that also went viral. But unlike that of the Philippines and South Africa, the man's disability was revealed early in the narrative.

Issues of plagiarism rose, but the ad agency that handled Quebec's ad denied allegations and reiterated the originality of their idea.

The new Philippine tourism video features blind Japanese retiree named M. Uchimura, who explored some of the country's best known tourist spots.

It is the second in a series of promotional ads to support the new "Experience the Philippines" campaign.

• READ: DOT bares new tourism campaign in heartwarming video

The DOT has yet to issue a statement regarding the similarity of its promotional video with South Africa's tourism ad.