By Ehda M. Dagooc
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Department of Tourism sees adventure tourism as another emerging revenue stream for Cebu with the potential of its nature-based sites.
Both the local government units and the private sector in Cebu are urged by DOT to capitalize on the province’s adventure tourism potential.
DOT secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said this tourism component could usher in opportunities for capitalists as tourists nowadays are now more interested on adventure-type activities in the Philippines.
In the United States, adventure tourism is a US$450 million industry.
The Philippines, which has ample sites to develop for this type of tourism component, is seen to generate more tourism revenue from this while providing local residents, especially rural people with livelihood from tourism revenues.
Cebu for instance, according to Durano has not yet maximized its potential in providing adventure or nature-based tourism activities, describing it as "still very small scale", unlike other places in the Philippines, specifically Palawan.
Durano urged LGUs in Cebu, and private sector players to start capitalizing on this avenue, as every town in the province has all the resources to develop its own "adventure tourism" attraction, may it be trekking, bird watching, island hopping, caving, among others.
"This is not a capital intensive investment. Part of the adventure is to preserve the authenticity of the place, and its culture. Thus, there is a need for LGUs and the private sector to partner in this area," Durano said in an interview over the weekend.
For DOT, Durano said there is an existing program of which part of the component is to equip LGUs in taking advantage of its nature-based sites to develop “adventure tourism" attraction, via its Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-Tourism (GREET) program.
Cebu, which has gained its prestige as the center for tourism in the Philippines, should immediately take advantage of this emerging tourism revenue stream for tourism, Durano said.
The secretary said that there are a lot of activities that will be developed into "adventure tourism" attraction from Southern to northern parts of the province, including the West.
Durano mentioned that the Toledo City area could develop a lot of adventure tourism activities, the town of Alegria should also develop caving and bird watching adventures, among other activities.
Durano said DOT will help LGUs in developing several activities that are geared towards adventure tourism, such as equipping the local residents and community in running such service.
In Bohol, DOT is actively cooperating with the LGUs to train and equip local people in tourism service exposure, as well as providing them with gears to start up an activity that will be part of tourists' come-on.
Durano emphasized that part of the adventure is to preserve the authenticity of the service, and activity itself, like a local resident should be in the front line, and speaking English with the local accent is already a good presentation.
Also, DOT will help LGUs to activate a very effective program in protecting the natural resources for sustainability of the sites, Durano said.
Durano, was the guest of honor during the formal opening of Islands Banca Cruises in Mactan Island, the first professionalized island-hopping service in Cebu that aims to jumpstart the development of adventure tourism in the Province.
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