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Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Dev't council eyes tourist spots growth
THE Regional Development Council (RDC) of Central Mindanao is planning to develop at least 17 resorts and natural attractions in the region as major eco-tourism destinations in the area over the next decade.
Hadja Sittie Mariam Lim, RDC secretary, said they intend to develop tourism pockets within the region's four provinces and five cities as part of the area's intermediate and short-term development strategies.
She said tourism development was among the key areas identified in the region's proposed physical framework plan that would begin next year until 2030.
Under the plan, Lim said they would establish tourism corridors in Cotabato City and Cotabato province, Koronadal City and South Cotabato's upper valley area and the coastal zone that covers this city and Sarangani province.
Among the projects lined up for Cotabato City and Cotabato province is the establishment of an eco-tourism site in Arakan and Magpet towns focusing on cave development, putting up of view decks in mountain resorts in the area and intensive promotions drive.
An agri-tourism site would also be established in Cotabato and Kidapawan City that will feature trading posts for the area's products and specialty restaurants while a river cruise development project is also being considered for the Rio Grande de Mindanao.
Other projects include cave development in Cotabato City, Arakan and Kidapawan as well as the development of the Batasan hot spring in Makilala, Mauig Falls and Datu Olong Cave in Kidapawan City.
For the South Cotabato and Koronadal corridor, the priority projects are the development of the El Gawel resort and Paraiso eco-tourism center in Koronadal, T'boli heritage park and eco-tourism area in Lake Sebu town.
The proposed projects in the coastal zone are the development of the Glan-Alabel eco-tourism area, Maitum-Lake Sebu tourism zone, establishment of Malungon as "Tagaytay" of Sarangani and the Kiamba-Maitum-Maasim tourism parks that will feature the Ayub Cave, Tampat Shrine and the historic burial sites in the area of the old Sultanate of Maguindanao.
Lim said the development of such tourism projects will complement the planned formulation of the region's tourism master plan set next year.
(November 24, 2004 issue)
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