THE first time I came across the term “Big 5” was in a trip to South Africa where they highlighted the five most difficult animals to hunt by foot.
These are the African lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Operators of game reserves there gave this group of animals the tag for easy promotion of safari adventures to tourists.
The next time I heard of the name “Big 5” was when the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office launched last month its eco-tourism package to bring tourists to unique destinations within the island. The package includes the Birding Tour and Nature Trek in Alcoy, Farm to Table Tour in Alegria, Bojo River Cruise in Aloguinsan, Heritage Walk in Boljoon, and Culinary Journey in Argao.
Cebu Provincial Tourism Officer Joselito “Boboi” Costas said tourists want to experience more than the beaches of Cebu and the “Big 5” was something unique for them. Costas is known as an advocate of grassroots tourism and is a figure behind the community-based effort to revive Bojo River in Aloguinsan town.
Cebu “Big 5” program is not a bad idea as it highlights features of Cebu that are not mainstream, not known to many promoters and travelers. What posed as the problem was when other towns felt left out and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale was not consulted even though she is chair of the Provincial Tourism Commission.
But all is settled between Costas and Magpale and the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office promised to undertake projects as well in the towns outside of the five that host the “Big 5” destinations in Cebu. How to go about that and how to continue to provide a different kind of adventure to tourists can be answered through many means, including perhaps by looking at South Africa’s own “Big 5.”
South Africa has several game reserves or national parks that offer tourists with an unobstructed view of the animals and a memorable bucket-list experience. Choose any of the game reserves and parks and get the chance to see giraffes gracefully stretch their necks to get to the tops of trees, elephants playing with their babies, rhinoceroses and buffalos milling in groups, and baboons by the roadside near tourists not bothering with the humans watching them. The package is not based on a location or a town; it is centered in the activity of animal watching that becomes the package offered by several destinations.
Cebu’s “Big 5” is already launched and is set to be sold at P6,000 or more per person to visit those eco-friendly destinations. The “Big 5” is there and it should be pursued so as not to put to waste what already was spent.
Costas and Magpale can work next on something grander, not a “Big 50” to show what all 44 towns and six component cities can offer, but a tour package based on tourist interests, such as beach destinations, diving spots, golf tours, mountain adventures, extreme sports, and food tours. There must be many possibilities for Cebu tourism beyond five or seven or nine items.