By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman) Updated September 09, 2009 12:00 AM
CEBU, Philippines - While the “Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo” program of the Cebu Provincial government successfully helped the promotion of countryside tourism, now the Department of Tourism throws a challenge to Governor Gwen Garcia to initiate a program that would generate tourism investments.
Tourism chief Joseph Ace Durano lauded Garcia’s passion to promote province-wide tourism in Cebu through the “Suroy-Suroy Sa Sugbo,” but this time, the program has to go a step higher.
He said the province is blessed with potential tourism destinations, however, still lacks accommodation facilities and tourism infrastructure that needs to be developed to spur tourism activity.
If investors are still scarce due to global recession jitters, the Cebu Provincial government could start a tourism facility project, just like what Camarines Sur had been doing.
“I don’t think the Cebu Provincial Government has no money. Funding is not a problem,” Durano said.
He said its high time to generate tourism investors, not just plainly attracting tourists, or warm bodies. This is to complement the increasing number of local and foreign visitors who now consider Cebu and its neighboring islands as one of their top destination choices.
“It does not have to be big investments, or big investors. One could start up with small facility, “Durano said adding that the Provincial Government could look into potential areas around the province that could also generate revenues.
Durano suggested that the innovative “Suroy-Suroy Sa Sugbo” program should graduate from just merely skip-trip jumping from one town to another, to a leisurely countryside adventure, bringing most importantly the potential investors.
Durano had been calling the attention of the Local Government Units (LGUs) executives around the country, especially in Cebu and Bohol to initiate tourism projects in their respective communities in order to make tourism an economic driver especially in rural towns.
According to Durano, lack of appreciation to develop a potential place for tourism is one of the primary problems of LGU executives, not the availability of financial resources, because state-owned financial institutions like Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) have available funds for tourism related developments especially projects that will establish facilities that give good revenue generation.
The secretary called the attention of LGU executives in the country, specifically in Cebu, not to wait for private investors to build or develop nature-based tourism facilities, but “they have to start it.”
“It’s a matter of managing finances. LGUs now do not have an excuse not to start developing a [tourism-related] facility in their respective place,” Durano said.
In Central Visayas, Bohol has pioneered LGU-initiated tourism facility project, like the Danao Adventure Park. Nationwide, there are only few LGUs that took advantage of this opportunity such as Camarines Sur’s adventure park, and Pagsanjan Rapids in Laguna.
Since the Philippines has identified its niche in nature tripping, adventure tourism, this is the ripe opportunity for LGUs to develop their areas, and make use of their natural resources as product for tourism.
Eco-tourism should be taken into serious consideration. Foreign travelers now, he said are demanding for nature-based activities and make use of the existing natural resources of a certain place.
“Eco-tourism is our niche. Let’s not try to be what we are not, or let us not try to be ‘Bangkok’. We have to see the example of some young LGU executives who are proactive in maximizing their respective area’s potential,” Durano said.
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