DOT initiates consultation on Tourism Development Area I, Leyte-Samar Interface

By EMY BONIFACIO, Samar News.com
March 16, 2011

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The Department of Tourism through its Regional Director, Ms. Karina Rosa Tiopes, Mr. Antonio Cinco and staff initiated a one day consultation with the tourism focal persons of Catbalogan City and the Municipalities of Talalora and Daram.

The forum held at Flaming Hat on March 12, 2011 was intended to look into the identified tourism loops and make an analysis as to its strengths and weaknesses, preparatory to the drafting of a concrete and doable tourism action plan for the next three years in the respective areas.

The LGUs concerned were advised to seriously focus and commit themselves in developing one tourism product that will be considered a legacy for all the efforts.

Tourism Development Area (TDA) I includes all municipalities of the 1st District of Leyte and the 2nd District of Samar. The clustering or identification of Strategic Destination Areas was based on the creation of the Central Philippines Tourism Super Regions in 2008 by former PGMA.

Dir. Tiopes envisions that the identified Strategic Destination Areas (SDAs) will have direct international access with seamless interconnectivity and world class tourist facilities and products that would meet the demands of tomorrow’s tourists. It will consider sustainable development of tourism products, environmental protection, adequate infrastructure, national management of destinations, capacity building, investment promotions, effective marketing and improved business environment as vital components or strategies towards the attainment of the said vision.

With the Tourism and Investment Code already in effect in Catbalogan, an active Tourism Council and a Technical working Group contributing in giving tourism industry a push, a Tourism Value Chain Analysis was conducted by Mr. Antonio Cinco. The value chain is an analysis tool for strategic planning. It identified a sequence of business activity of every sector in making a product.

“Thus, all other sectors need to be mobilized effectively because if an operator performs or does not perform in accordance with what has been planned, the entire market is affected. A chain is as strong as the weakest link”, explains Mr. Cinco as he stressed the importance of coordination of all sectors in the community.

The three LGUs were made to demonstrate the respective loops in terms of tourism sites identified, modes of transportation, travel time and activities that can be offered to tourists.

Raul Reyes, the designated Tourism Officer of Catbalogan City shared new concepts in marketing Catbalogan as a tourist destination. He mentioned about the city seascapes with overlapping islands that are comparable to that of the Carribean. Furthermore, the city identified 7 populated islands under Catbalogan jurisdiction, 27 unnamed islands and 7 with coral reefs that need developing. Tourism interests in Catbalogan include religious, historical, cultural and adventure sites.

On the other hand, Talalora has adventure and village tours as tourism activities while Daram will capitalize on the sun, sea and sand features as a potential island destination.

The consultation pointed out various challenges such as the inavailability of a concrete monitoring or database as to the arrivals of tourists in the area which is made as the basis for funding assistance from the DOT. There was an observation raised as to the lack of enthusiasm of hotel and restaurant owners in attending seminars to upgrade their skills and get involved in tourism planning. The immediate organizing of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), Catbalogan Branch was suggested to foster collaboration and cooperation among accommodation providers. An immediate establishment of a Tourism Assistance Center where visitors can converge should also be prioritized. It was suggested that the center be situated near the bus terminal or the port area where it is visible, accessible and serviceable.

Before the day ended, Dir. Tiopes required the LGUs to submit three priority sites for development, identify operators and enablers (value chain mapping) and discover the opportunities and constraints, timelines and responsible agencies as outputs of the consultation.

“We should not forget to involve the community. In the end, it will be the people who can make tourism happen. Let’s identify our respective roles in the tourism industry. I’m calling on the legislators present to come up with ordinances that would promote tourism in your area. Let’s work together in achieving peace and project the image that Samar is not a risky place and a visit to Samar is worth it” were Tiopes’s final message of encouragement to the participants.