Sunday, September 10, 2006
'Negros Oriental can't compete with Cebu, Bohol'
By Victor L. Camion
GOVERNOR George Arnaiz admitted that Negros Oriental couldn't compete with Cebu and Bohol in terms of tourism promotion because they have facilities.
"But we can work together with them," said Governor George Arnaiz in his keynote speech before 300 participants and stakeholders from Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental who attended the 10th Annual Central Visayas Regional Assembly of Tourism Councils, at Bethel Guest House recently.
Arnaiz, as chairman of the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas, urged tour operators and travel agencies to promote equally all tourist destinations in Central Visayas region "so that the people in other countries of the world will know that we exist."
The governor estimated that some 7,000 foreign tourists visit Central Visayas every year.
"It will be good if Negros Oriental can get a share of that number of tourists," he added.
The regional director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Visayas earlier urged tour operators in Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City to put more efforts and to tie up with tour operators and travel agencies all over the world like those in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Europe, China, Japan, Holland, United States of America, and Vancouver, in Canada among others.
"Kay kon wala sila'y pakete didto unsaon pagkahibalo sa mga taga didto," DOT-Central Visayas Regional Director Patria Aurora Roa told the local media.
Roa was one of the speakers at the gathering.
She said the people of Negros Oriental should not perceive that the department was not promoting Siquijor and the province.
"Kon ako ang inahan sa industriya pareho nako na silang mga anak," she said adding, "Pero ang uban man god mga abtik man. Naa man gyo'y abtik sa industriya kay nakalupad na sila, naay katie-up didto, naay ilang opisina sa Amerika, sa San Francisco, sa Tokyo. Kon unsay ilang ibaligya maoy mahalin."
Roa said her department has helped a lot to promote Negros Oriental.
"I'm not spending for Bohol, I'm not spending for Cebu for any single centavo but I'm spending for Negros Oriental and Siquijor," she said "Wa man sukad mahitabo nga wa maapil ang Oriental Negros ug Siquijor. Ang problema gipalit ba sila?"
Roa added, "Dili ikalimod nga naa'y naka-una nila and they have five star hotels."
The problem, she said, was that tourists, especially international tourists, visiting Cebu City do not have access to the two provinces.
"Pawisan man god ta'g mag Ocean Jet," she said adding, "Okay lang unta kon permanente ang biyahe."
She stressed that Dumaguete needs a flight from Cebu and vice versa.
"Ilabi na gyod ang Siquijor kay wala na'y Supercat," the regional tourism director said.
Roa also stressed that Dumaguete, as entry point to the province has no port terminal.
"Maulanan ang turista. Kon init kaayo, hilantan sa kainit," she said adding, "I suffered that same fate nga magpayong-payong ta-maayo lagi'g naay payong."
"Ang mga turista kon maoy mobaligya unahon man gyud kay halinon man kay mao may ready na," Roa said, adding, "Wa gani ta'y taxi dinhi (Dumaguete City)."
(September 10, 2006 issue)
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