Guv shares tourism ideas with Puerto Princesa

Saturday, February 11, 2012

PUERTO Princesa City, Palawan-Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the benefits of tourism should not be focused on metropolitan areas but on the countryside as well.

Garcia shared the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, a local tourism program of the Province, during the first tourism summit of Puerto Princesa City, on invitation of Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

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“If you talk of massive tourism influx, it’s always Cebu and we will follow all the good things that the governor has been doing,” Hagedorn said.

Garcia said instilling in the people pride of their place is part of tourism. She said it’s essential to any tourism program that the people are involved.

Garcia said she was hesitant to give a speech because the city’s underground river is already part of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

“I felt that talking about tourism here would be like preaching the gospel to the Pope,” she said.

But Hagedorn said they are still in their early stage of their tourism program, unlike Cebu.

He said that after Puerto Princesa’s underground river was declared as a world wonder, the city’s tourist arrivals grew. Hagedorn said they are not yet ready to accommodate a huge number of tourists, so they decided to hold a summit.

Hagedorn said he gathered all tour operators and public officials who have made a mark in tourism development.

Establishing linkages is important in their efforts to improve their tourism industry, he said. He said he is open to a sisterhood agreement program with Cebu Province.

“I’ve visited Cebu and it’s a very developed area compared to ours. I will be very happy if we’ll have a sisterhood agreement with Cebu, if we are accepted,” he said.

Garcia, in a separate interview, welcomed the possible agreement. She said if it happens, she will bring Cebu town mayors to Puerto Princesa. A memorandum of understanding will be signed, followed by the memorandum of agreement for the sisterhood.

Garcia said she wanted to have a Cebu Provincial Tourism Code, like Puerto Princesa.