Gov. Villafuerte urges convergence to fortify Luzon tourism promotion

Focused convergence of inputs and resources of all stakeholders – national agencies, local government units and the private sector – is essential if we are to maximize tourism development in Luzon.

Thus CamSur Governor LRay Villafuerte enjoined participants of the National Development Plan (NTDP) consultation workshop for Southern Luzon cluster held Friday, March 29 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

Speaking with the authority and experience of the man largely responsible for the transformation of CamSur from an obscure and depressed province to a position as the most visited destination as well as one of the top richest province in the country, Governor Villafuerte stressed the need for cohesive action in developing the cluster’s extensive tourism potentials especially at this point in time of increasingly rising tourism market demand.

Statistics reflect foreign tourist arrivals in the country increased to a total of 3.5 million in 2010 compared to 3.1 million in 2009, with brighter growth prospects at about 4.5 million by 2015 and around 5.7 million by 2020.

Surveys also indicate increased domestic travel, with an estimated 22.8 million Filipinos who travelled within the country from April to September 2009, over one-third or 7.8 million travelling purely for vacation or leisure.

To be able to successfully tap these growing market that could translate into millions of dollars would inevitably require the concerted and coordinated efforts of all stakeholders, particularly addressing regional issues and concerns like transportation connectivity (air, sea and ground services), access (airports, seaports and roads), destination (drainage, solid waste, power, water, ITC and tourist support) and site (last mile access, parking, public toilets, information and protection) infrastructures.

Other lateral concerns and issues also need to be addressed like peace and order, quality of tourist facilities and services, tourism manpower skills, LGU tourism capabilities and access to tourism markets.

The workshop thus focused on translating basic concerns into a comprehensive plan that would consolidate the objectives and streamline tourism operations of various sectors such that they would complement each other without undue duplication and eliminate low quality facilities and services.

During the consultation the Bicol Region was proposed to be divided into two major tourism zones of three provinces each, one composed of the Camarines provinces and Catanduanes with CamSur as center of activities and the other composed of Albay, Sorosogon and Masbate with Albay at the hub.(GBClaveria)

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