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PART II: PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH
Chapter
14. Tourism
I. Summary
Tourism remains an important service sector of the region’s
economy. Despite of the global financial crisis, tourism
remained strong as visitor arrivals to the region hit
records high in 2008.
The influx of visitors was attributed to the hosting of
several international and national events and conventions,
venue for location shooting of foreign films and television
programs, and the presence of the region’s popular
attractions such as the Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex (CWC),
Donsol Whaleshark Interaction, Albay’s majestic Mt. Mayon
and other emerging destinations which include Caramoan
Peninsula, Donsol Firefly Watching, Prieto Diaz Mangrove
Tour, Bagasbas Surfing, Puraran Beach in Baras, Catanduanes,
and Mantaray Interaction in San Jacinto, Masbate, among
others.
The year 2008 also witnessed a growing number of tourism
development projects in the region by foreign and local
investors. These included the construction of shopping
malls, tourism complex, recreational center, new
accommodation establishments and renovation or expansion of
the existing ones.
II. Assessment
The year 2008 was a banner year for Bicol tourism as visitor
arrivals gained a remarkable increase of 46 percent from
last year’s level of 897,680 to 1,306,972. This upsurge in
visitor arrivals increased gross receipts by 77 percent and
an increase in jobs generated by 57 percent (Table 14.1).
The objective laid down in the Updated Plan to put Bicol in
the world tourism map was gradually realized as the number
of foreign tourists increased by 19 percent compared to the
previous year. A notable increase in the number of French
nationals was observed because of the French version of
Survivor, “Koh Lanta,” held in Gota Beach, Caramoan,
Camarines Sur. The last tele-series of the event was
launched at the Top Resa Paris International Travel Market
held in Paris, France in September attended by DOT Secretary
Joseph Ace H. Durano, head of the Philippine delegation,
Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr. and
DOT 5 Regional Director Maria Ravanilla. Because of
Caramoan’s exposure in the “Koh Lanta” TV series, three
European countries eyed Gota Island to be the location of
another Survivor TV series in 2009.
Bicol also hosted the International Kite Boarding
Competition held in Bagasbas Beach, Daet, Camarines Norte
and the World Wake Boarding Competition in Camarines Sur
Watersports Complex.
Among the six provinces of the region, Camarines Sur
registered 55 percent of the total tourist arrivals in 2008
with its Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) and Gota
beach resort as major destinations. Far second were Albay
and Masbate with 13 percent each, followed by Camarines
Norte (8%), Sorsogon (6%) and Catanduanes (4%).
Some of the popular tourist destinations were the CWC in
Pili, Camarines Sur, Gota Beach in Caramoan, Camarines Sur,
Butanding Interaction in Donsol, Sorsogon, Mayon Volcano in
Albay, Puraran in Baras, Catanduanes, Bagasbas Beach in Daet,
Camarines Norte and Manta Ray Haven in Ticao Island,
Masbate.
Table 14.1 Tourist Arrivals by Province, Tourist Receipts and
Jobs Generated, Bicol Region, 2007 and 2008
Province/
Particulars |
2007 |
2008 |
Share by Province in 2008 (%) |
Growth Rate(%) |
|
Albay |
141,855 |
173,959 |
13 |
23 |
|
Cam.
Norte |
80,936 |
105,051 |
8 |
30 |
|
Cam.
Sur |
456,911 |
721,024 |
55 |
58 |
|
Catanduanes |
51,055 |
56,613 |
4 |
11 |
|
Masbate |
107,008 |
166,784 |
13 |
56 |
|
Sorsogon |
59,915 |
83,541 |
6 |
39 |
|
Total Tourist Arrivals |
897,680 |
1,306,972 |
100 |
46 |
|
Tourist receipts (PM) |
443 |
782 |
- |
77 |
|
Jobs created |
317,874 |
499,336 |
- |
57 |
Source: DOT 5
To attain the objectives set out in the Plan, five
strategies were implemented. These were:
Sustainable development of key and potential
eco-tourism destinations with the LGUs as lead.
The DOT spearheaded an exposure and familiarization tour
of LGU officials and tourism council members of Bicol in
Beijing, China in February. China was chosen as one of
the fast growing regions in Asia in terms of tourism
development. The tour provided the 105 participants
first-hand experience of exploring the major tourist
destinations of Beijing to broaden LGUs’ perspective in
priming up and enhancing local tourism in their
respective areas. The tour also inculcated the culture
of tourism among the LGUs and private stakeholders that
provided them with deeper appreciation on how tourism
would develop their areas through investment generation
and job creation.
Tourism destinations rehabilitation/development.
The rehabilitation and development of priority tourism
areas was observed with the growing number of tourism
development projects undertaken by foreign and local
investors. These included the construction of shopping
malls, tourism complex, recreational center, new
accommodation establishments and renovation or expansion
of the existing ones. Nevertheless, more efforts are yet
to be done to encourage private sector to invest in
tourism products/activities that would prolong the stay
of tourists in the area. The preparation of the
Sustainable Tourism Management Plan for the Central
Philippines would pave the way to the development of
priority tourism destination areas in each province that
would complement the tourism activities of the Central
Philippines.
Tourism support facilities development.
The provision of necessary infrastructure and service
facilities to support tourism were provided through the
implementation of major infrastructure projects. This
included Andaya Highway, GMA Highway, Caramoan Peninsula
Road, and several RORO projects that would connect Bicol
to other regions of the Central Philippines.
Tourism marketing and promotion. The
aggressive tourism promotion of the DOT 5 and LGUs in
the local and international market was very effective in
increasing tourist arrivals to the region in 2008. Among
the international tourism sales missions that DOT 5
participated were the Top Resa Paris International
Travel Market and the 14th International
Trade Fair for Travel and Tourism in Moscow, Russia.
The DOT also spearheaded the exposure and
familiarization tour of LGU officials to Beijing, China
and Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, California, USA.
Bicol’s tourist attractions were also promoted to local
tourists through the participation of the DOT in the 2nd
Davao Travel Show, Viz-Min Travel and Lifestyle Show,
WOW Cagayan Valley Region’s Pattaraday Festival, Travel
and Trade Fair, 19th Philippine Travel Mark,
Gayon Bikol Fiesta sa Orgullo kan Bikol Trade Fair,
Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) and several other local
festivals. Selling Bicol in 2008 also included the
hosting by the DOT of media and travel and tour
operators to validation and familiarization tour to
Bicol. These activities not only put back Bicol in the
international tourism map but also opened Bicol products
to the international markets.
Institutional development. DOT conducted
and assisted tourism training and seminars to provide
quality services and upgrade industry skills in the
operations of tourism in the region. The trainings
provided were Mountain Guide Seminar; Seminar for
Tourism Frontliners (Porters and Guides), Festival
Management Seminar-Workshop, Training on Values of
Tourism/ Culture and Excellence in Naga City and Sto.
Domingo, Albay, Food Preparation and Handling Workshop,
Seminar on Water Survival, Search and Rescue Assistance
for TOPCOP, Values of Tourism and Culture of Excellence
for Boatmen, Values of Tourism and Culture of Excellence
for Butanding Interaction Officers (BIO), Values of
Tourism and Culture of Excellence on Safety, and
Disaster Preparedness Training.
III.
Prospects and Trends for 2009
Since U.S.A. is the second-highest source of tourists of the
region and the country’s core tourism market, the US
slowdown may have an adverse effect on tourism. Others
believe that the growth outlook for 2009 will continue to be
weighed down by the contraction of outbound travel in key
source markets and that the growth in tourist arrivals for
2009 will largely depend on the recovery of key source
markets.
But even with the global financial crisis that started two
years ago, the region remained strong as manifested by the
growth in tourist arrivals. Tourism is one sector that needs
to be strengthened as the region’s response to the global
meltdown. The region should continue to push tourism to
provide jobs and vast opportunities to the Bicolanos.
Aggressive tourism promotion should be sustained in existing
markets particularly in Asian countries that were not
affected much of the financial crisis. The region should
also pursue niche marketing campaigns focusing on ecotourism
to attract new markets such as
France, Germany, Russia and Canada.
Other opportunities that the region should pursue are on the
areas of medical tourism and retirement village. With our
distinct brand of care, competence and sensitivity that
patients find quite appealing, and people with a good
command of the English language, we have a comparative
advantage in these tourism products.
The Philippines, particularly the Bicol region has a long
way to go in terms of tourism and economic development.
However, we have a great potential to be a premier
destination because we are richly endowed with natural
attractions and highly trainable human capital.
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