On the roll in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan — Department of Tourism Secretary Dick Gordon continues to exhort tourism leaders in the private and government sectors in the provinces to help prepare their communities to receive tourists pointing out that he could not possibly bring tourists to a community that is not ready to accept them.

He told delegates to the 8th Southern Tagalog Tourism Council Assembly organized by DoT Region 4 director Louella C. Jurilla and held last week at the Barcelo Asturias Hotel in this city that tourism promotion “must be community-based to be successful.” This means that mayors and governors, in partnership with their private sectors, need to play a major role in tourism promotion, which includes maintenance of peace and order and clean surroundings including efficient traffic flow.

Delegates to the assembly came from the provincial tourism councils of Aurora, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Quezon, Rizal, Romblon and Palawan.

Sec. Gordon said, “where tourism advances, poverty retreats.” He pointed out a World Tourism Organization (WTO) study that one new job is created in the economy when 12 to 18 tourists visit a country. This is aside from the $120 average spend of each foreign tourist.

In his presentation to delegates, the DoT chief also brought out the fact from WTO data that tourism is now the world’s leading industry with 700 million tourists (2000 figures) and has become the “fastest route to prosperity.” He said that if supported and promoted by every citizen in the country, tourism could also be the leading economic force to push our nation to prosperity as shown by many countries the world over including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and even Vietnam in the ASEAN region.

And to enjoy the fruits of tourism, Sec. Gordon said, every citizen must develop a “culture of tourism” where national and local governments are actively helping build awareness of our country, conscious about building strong value propositions and developing access, accommodations and activities to tourist-ready levels.

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Sec. Gordon’s provincial sorties during the tourism-related industry congresses and the regional tourism council meetings are aimed to promote the WOW (Wealth of Wonders) Philippines, More Than the Usual campaign and to prepare the whole country for the biggest international campaign the DoT has embarked on – the Visit Philippines 2003. While it’s a difficult challenge, the DoT is hopeful for three million visitor arrivals in 2003 or in 2004 as a direct result of the WOW Philippines and Visit Philippines 2003 promotions.

He disclosed to delegates that towards the end of 2003, the WOW Philippines, More Than the Usual will be geared up to WOW Philippines, More Than the Usual Asia. The blurb is seen to compete with Malaysia’s “Truly Asia” and Thailand’s “Amazing Thailand” campaigns.

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In between assembly activities, Sec. Gordon visited the Crocodile Farm and Nature Park operated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Resources Development Corporation and the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center. Upon seeing that the site has a lot of room for improvement, he committed to give R5 million to help rehabilitate the park and strengthen the conservation program of Philippine crocodiles. He said the crocodile farm in Puerto could become a popular tourist attraction in the city.

Earlier this year, after visiting Puerto’s famous underground river, Sec. Gordon got the Department of Public Works and Highway to improve a portion of the road leading to the Subterranean River National Park with a R10 million budget. Palawan is indeed lucky with Sec. Gordon who believes in the future of Palawan in tourism.

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BY THE WAY, Palawan will soon become a tourist enterprise zone and investments as this last frontier of the country will enjoy various perks like tax holidays for tourist establishments such as desalinating equipment and power generators for small islands. Even Sec. Gordon once said that if he had money he would pour it in Palawan. (Comments to consult@skyinet.net)

[ Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center Wiki ]