We’re all travellers

In 2007, domestic tourists faced strong competition against foreign tourists, fighting for the same hotel room and air seats

Wether driving to the next town or heading to the unexplored areas of the Philippines, there has never been this much interest for Filipinos to travel in their own country.

"It has become a lifestyle trend especially for young people to travel and see the beauty of the country," said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano.

The huge influx of domestic travellers especially during last year’s summer vacation have caused strong competition among foreign and domestic visitors for accommodations in various destinations of the country, even constraining the growth of foreign arrivals during these months.

"There’s a great dynamic happening in the domestic scene. The friendly competition among local airlines, like offering affordable airfares, is really boosting domestic travel eventhough we have little intervention on our part," he enthused.

The past year saw the Department of Tourism (DoT) in an alliance with different Filipino corporations advocating domestic travel.

Likewise, the DoT promoted travel with as much passion as protecting the country’s natural diversity, introducing a lifestyle change through wellness tourism and pushing travellers to their limits with more unique adventures.

NATURE

The environmental degradation particularly in heavily promoted and visited spots prompted the DoT, together with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), to banner ecotourism and sustainable development.

For Durano, the challenge lies in bringing in the tourists but at the same time, educating them on how to appreciate these nature’s gifts and take care of it. "Respecting nature and sustaining them is actually the most gratifying part of travel," he said.

Recognizing the biological vulnerability of the whalesharks in Donsol, Sorsogon, Durano and representatives from WWF visited the province in April 2007 to pursue ecotourism based on whaleshark watching.

Ecotourism is deemed as an alternative wherein tourists take on the observer status, granting due respect to the local community and their environment. Through ecotourism, the socio-economic benefits are directed to the community, while tourists benefit as well, with the opportunity to experience nature’s grandeur and contribute to its preservation.

Boracay is still considered the jewel of the Philippines and the pride of the country’s booming tourism industry despite what Durano calls an "undisciplined development."

The Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BCCI) and the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), an organization of volunteers dedicated to saving the island, identified perennial problems such as waste management, improper food sanitation, flooding, and inadequate transport system that need to be resolved to prevent it from further deterioration.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in February for the implementation of a Sanitary Food Preparation Program and the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Following that are the many positive changes in Boracay last year like the setting up of a waste segregation program in each barangay by the DoT; construction of the drainage system; the holding of US-accredited training program to improve food preparation and sanitation in the island; and the implementation of the "One Entry, One Exit" policy wherein all seacraft are only allowed to embark or disembark passengers at the Cagban Port.

NURTURE

Holidays have become synonymous with health. More people are going on spa trips for a wellness experience, typically on a weekend. But beyond the physical aspect of healing, the Philippines has the atmosphere and nature, which are most important for a lifestyle change. The Spa Association of the Philippines (SAP) even claimed that nowadays, it is the spa business that drives the hotel business rather than the other way around.

Two indigenous Filipino massage therapies — "hilot" and "dagdagay," are now among the world’s best. "Hilot," is an ancient Filipino art of healing while "dagdagay," which originated in the Mountain Province, is an acupressure treatment for the feet using sticks.

DoT–accredited spa centers are required to incorporate hilot in their massage therapies. Out of some 90 spas in the country, 37 spas are now offering hilot to their guests.

The country also hosted the 2nd International Medical Travel Conference in November, bringing together health experts from the US, Europe, Middle East and South Asia. It is the country’s first step in becoming a part of the billion medical travel industry. Medical tourism is a rapidly growing industry with many prominent hospitals in Manila such as St. Luke’s Medical Center and Medical City affiliated with the program.

ADVENTURE

The provincial government–run water sports complex in Pili, Camarines Sur has reinvigorated tourism in Bicol. The province is now known not only as the home of world-renowned Mayon Volcano, but also a haven for nature lovers, divers, food trippers and more recently, wakeboarders.

The CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) has stirred tourism in nearby Daet, Camarines Norte, while the whaleshark interaction in Donsol, Sorsogon had spillover effects on Naga City.

With the completion of the six–hectare water sports complex, visitor arrivals in Camarines Sur alone surged 67 percent last year compared to the same period in 2006. Many other local leaders are now looking at Camarines Sur as a model for tourism development. Bicol will be hosting the World Wakeboarding Championship in July 2008, which is expected to attract around 200 wakeboarders from here and abroad.

With bicycling now being touted as a new way of touring, DoT National Capital Region is pushing Muntinlupa City’s New Bilibid Prisons Land Reserve as a destination for this. Mountain bikers can immerse themselves in a cultural experience as the city boasts of numerous historical landmarks. Developments are underway in the 600–hectare reserve which will have recreation, housing and eco–site facilities.

Durano said that the challenge now is how to service the demand. "We are trying to accelerate the completion of infrastructure projects, particularly the construction of hotels, resorts and airports, and the expansion of airlines, that is, the paradise to paradise air services."

To date, more than R100 billion worth of investments have been pouring in from both local private investors and international businesses. The DoT is expecting 3,000 new rooms in the next two years including a 6–star resort at the Elephant island in Marinduque. While the hospitality sector is increasing capacity in accommodations as well as upgrading facilities, the transport sector is working on expanding flights, opening new routes and increasing seat capacities to improve access within the islands and provide affordable transportation.

[ Elephant Island Wiki ]