Saturday, April 21, 2007 Camiguin gets funds to lure more tourists
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) 10 is inviting the public to spend their summer vacations in Camiguin province, which is considered as one of the country’s top destinations this time of year.
DOT Northern Minda-nao Director Catalino Chan III said this during the recent “PIA Mobile Tala-kayan” in Mambajao, the province’s capital.
Chan said the island-province of Camiguin was recently declared by the World Beaches Association as number one among the top 12 beaches in the world and the only one in Asia.
Distinction
Aside from this distinction, Chan said, the island was recently proclaimed as the 6th best dive site in Asia and is recognized as one of the top 10 domestic destinations.
He said this is because other than its beautiful beaches and tourist spots, local officials are working to protect the environment and maintain the pro-vince’s peacefulness.
“In fact, tourists can walk around the island in the evening without hesitation,” Chan said, adding that Camiguin’s peace and order condition has remained relatively stable and conducive to tourism over the years.
Super region
Chan also said while Camiguin is part of Northern Mindanao, President Arroyo included it in her Super Regions blueprint for tourism development.
He said this makes the province part of the Cebu-Bohol-Camiguin triad tourist destination in Central Philippines.
This triad destination, he said, is very accessible via roll-on, roll-off ferries plying the Central Nautical Highway, which is part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway project implemented by the government to link up all major destinations from Luzon to Mindanao.
“More roll-on, roll-off ferries are operating on the Benoni (Camiguin)-Bali-ngoan (Misamis Oriental) route at 18 trips a day. Tourists find it more convenient to bring their vehicles. We are also working to catch more tourists coming from Cebu and Bohol,” Chan further said during the “PIA Mobile Talakayan.”
Gov. Pedro P. Romual-do, in a separate interview, revealed that Arroyo released P87 million for the improvement of the Balba-gon port in Mambajao as part of the effort to bring in more tourists from Cebu and Bohol.
Improvement
He said improvement works on the port will start any time this month.
In the same forum, Chan also announced that Camiguin now boasts of “Class A” resorts and facilities, offering amenities that range from horseback riding, scuba diving, mountaineering and to the so-called “path to waterfalls.”
Chan also noted the strong legislative support in the tourism industry, citing Camiguin Provincial Board’s recent effort to link up with the legal division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to review and implement proper policies in the coastline areas.
Eco-system
Jesus D. Pacuribot, chairman of the Provincial Board committee on tourism development, said they are now reviewing existing ordinances pertaining to the island’s dive sites in a bid to further protect the coastline eco-system and boost the island’s tourism industry.
Tourist influx has been consistently increasing every year. Provincial Tourism Office records reveal that tourist arrivals in 2006 was posted at 244,135, exceeding the figures of the preceding year by 3,574. (Sunnex/Trends)
