This was the observation of the economic group who attended the recently held Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas Strategic Planning Workshop.
Region 8 is being pushed as an alternative tourist destination and the private sector has been active in the development of recreational facilities such as resorts which are now sprouting in the Region.
The private sector has also been active in medical tourism with the establishment of several spa clinics which are comparable to if not even better than those in the other places in the country offering the same.
On the other hand, the government agencies and local government units have been very active in organizing tourism activities, capacity enhancement programs for frontliners and in tourism promotion.
The municipalities in the first district of Leyte have been given Tourism and Information office through the countryside development fund of then Congresswoman Remedios Petilla.
Moreover, the group took notice that protection, conservation and upgrading of potential tourism areas are being pursued.
All these efforts resulted in increased tourist arrivals both domestic and foreign, by 52.3% from 2005-2006.
However, more efforts should be done to make Region 8 people visitor-friendly by promoting in-bound tourism, the group observed.
There is also a need to massively improve the infrastructure facilities and amenities to make the region an alternative tourist destination.
Among the concerns of the sector are the need to intensify tourism promotion for the Region; improvement of the frontline service; the need for more and quality transport systems to tourism terminals; the support for infrastructure facilities and amenities; and becoming more tourism friendly.
The target of the Tourism sector from this year to 2010, is to have one iconic destination per province. Another target is to increase the annual tourist arrival by 15%. (PIA 8)
[ Source : www.pia.gov.ph ] February 5, 2008
_____________________________________
