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Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Sarangani outlines tourism map
SARANGANI finally produced its blueprint tourism master plan that would guide officials and stakeholders in gearing the province to become one of the country's premiere eco-tourism destinations, officials said Tuesday.
Water sports, white sand beaches, and other natural spots were among those identified in the master plan to further draw both foreign and domestic tourists in various localities of the province.
A number of those who participated in the drafting of the tourism master plan went to the province of Bohol last January to conduct a bench-marking activity and experienced first-hand how Bohol runs its tourism industry.
Bohol, which is known for its tarsiers, and Sarangani have similarities in landscape and sceneries. Both have white sand beaches and coastal towns. Tarsiers are also endemic in Sarangani.
"We are in the position to attract tourists to the province. It is not only our splendid landscape and beaches that we could boast of, but the Sarangans as a people," said Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez.
With the master plan, Sarangani officials are aiming to raise its tourist arrivals to 500,000 local tourists and 5,000 foreign tourists in 2011.
Sarangani was visited by 67,000 domestic tourist and almost 800 foreign tourists in 2004, according to records of the provincial tourism office.
The drafting of the tourism master plan was the culmination of a series of activities to gear up Sarangani for eco-tourism.
More than 50 participants, consisting of provincial and municipal employees, resort operators and stakeholders of the tourism industry were involved in the production of the tourism master plan.
They have identified the existing and potential tourism sites in the province as basis for action planning and feasibility studies.
"Sarangani has what it takes to be a major tourist destination," said V. De Ocampo of the Development Academy of the Philippines, which was commissioned by the province to formulate the tourism master plan.
"This will help us a lot in our quest to attract tourists to Sarangani. We now have identified what sites are ready and what other sites can be develop so as to attract more tourists," said Nenita Barroso, provincial director of Department of Trade and Industry.
Barroso, who currently heads the newly-integrated Sarangani Province Tourism and Investment Promotions Center, added that tourism service-providers are welcome to invest in Sarangani.
Eco-adventure packages now catering to tourists include whitewater tubing in Maitum, South Point Divers in Maasim, Rosal and White Haven beach resorts in Gumasa, Glan, the Lamlifew Tribal Community in Datal Tampal, Malungon, and Isla Parilla in Alabel.
"We can tell tourists that we have everything in Sarangani. Adventure, cultural and nature spots are all in Sarangani," noted Board Member Arturo Lawa, chair of the Provincial Board Committee on Tourism.
Several tourist destinations were also identified as potential sites. Some of these would be ready to accommodate tourists in the near term.
Tuka Marine Sanctuary, the Tuka White Sand Beach, the Malapatan Mat Dream Weavers, the Bat Sanctuary in Maitum are several destinations that only need minor improvements in order for them to be ready for massive tourist arrivals.
"Sarangani is the next big thing," said travel writer Toby Martin in his article in the Philippine Air Line Mabuhay Magazine in December 2005. Martin visited Sarangani last October. He has been back twice this year.
A good number of tourists have already been in Sarangani. They heard of the place through friends. Some saw features about Sarangani on TV while others have read articles about the place in newspapers and magazine.
"Seeing all these is quite a revelation. Sarangani is a fantastic destination. It has vast potentials," said Manila visitor Trina Daynos, an executive assistant from the Department of Tourism who visited Sarangani with her six-person team last September.
"Protect what you got. It is really beautiful," said Dr. Jose Muñoz of Chicago, USA. Muñoz visited Sarangani last month with two graduating students of Harvard University Medical School.
"This place is great. So are the people," said Lauren Patty of Boston, USA. She was on her rural medicine immersion, a requirement of Harvard University before graduation. (RBS)
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(March 13, 2006 issue)
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