Friday, March 28, 2008 Programs up in trade, tourism gab in Kudarat
SEVERAL program and project proposals for Mindanao's tourism development will be discussed during the upcoming 3rd Mindanao Trade, Investment, and Tourism Congress slated during the weeklong observance of the 2nd Sultan Kudarat Business Week on April 7 to 13.
Among of these programs and projects are the holding of different fora or congresses to bring the private sector and LGUs together for joint program investments on tourism facilities in identified tourism site; the lobbying for the different LGUs to allocate budget for the construction of all weather road networks to identified tourism sites in their respective areas; massive information campaign on the Mindanao Tourism Roadmap; the creation of a Mindanao travel website and Mindanao Travel and Trade guidebook; promoting a stronger public-private sector partnership in tourism programs and projects; and establishing a Mindanao Regional Air Linkages.
Elena Haw, chair of MTIT Congress, said in Tuesday's Business Forum at the Medispa in SM Davao that the establishment of a Mindanao Regional Air Linkage would facilitate the convenience of inter-Mindanao regional travel to promote both tourism and business.
"We hope that these projects and programs will address the concerns and issues regarding the tourism in Mindanao," Haw said.
Haw, on the other hand, said she was saddened by the fact that while they are promoting the MTIT Congress through road shows in different areas in Mindanao, she observed that the tourism industry in most of the Mindanao regions lack private sector intervention.
"Most happenings in Mindanao regions we visited, it is the LGUs who are active in promoting and selling tourism destinations. I think it would be best if the private sector too will intervene because tourism practically is business," Haw said.
Meanwhile, Haw also identified some of the concerns and issues in tourism in Mindanao. The issues, she said, will be presented and discussed during the MTITC.
These concerns include the lack of tourism facilities; lack of private sector involvement in some regions of Mindanao in promoting local tourism sites; absence of Mindanao regional air linkage; lack of inter-regional Mindanao travel and tour coordination among private and public sector agencies; lack of all weather road access to identified tourism sites; and lack of information dissemination of a Mindanao tourism roadmap. (JGRS)
