THE National Government is allocating P15 million to assist local government units in Samar province to come up with a first ever Island-wide tourism master development plan this year.
The Samar is one of the two areas in the country that will be given assistance in 2011 as a big step to reach its tourism potential.
The other area is Zamboanga del Norte, said Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Karina Rosa S. Tiopes.
“We are hoping that before the end of March 2011, we will be holding our consultative meeting and focused group discussion with representatives from the three provinces of Samar both from the government and private sectors,” Tiopes said in a media briefing held in Catbalogan town, Samar.
She said the budget coming from the DOT will be used in conducting seminars and gatherings with various groups.
“We will be inviting not just people from the government but also from the private sector. In a realistic scenario, private sector should be at the forefront. We need their inputs because they’re the ones investing more in tourism,” the official said.
According to her, this is the first time that the entire island will have a unified plan to develop top tourism destinations.
“The concept is marketing the entire Island. We have to admit that tourist cannot have more experience if he will just stay in one town or city. The purpose is to cooperate with each other and promote each other,” she said.
“This is not spoon-feeding. We have to get the involvement of local governments units. They will have a sense of ownership because they’re the ones who made the plan. They’re part of the process,” Tiopes said.
Two years ago, the three Catholic dioceses in Samar Island have proposed to the Office of the President for the development of seven major destinations in the areas.
These are the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Samar; Calbiga Caves in Calbiga, Samar; the network of waterfalls in Calbayog City; the Biri Protected Seascapes in Biri, Northern Samar; the San Antonio Beaches in San Antonio, Northern Samar; the Borongan-Llorente forest canopy in Borongan, Eastern Samar; and surfing on Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
The newly launched Ulot River Extreme Boat Ride in Paranas, Samar has also been receiving an increasing number of adventure tourists this year, according to the Samar Island Natural Park.
Lack of infrastructure support is the major factor identified in the slow tourism development in the island but officials continue to promote the various tourist spots, Tiopes said.
Linkages have been forged with travel and tour operators to promote the destinations.
Under the Central Philippines Tourism Super Region Management Plan, identified as Tourism Development Areas (TDAs) are the Samar–Leyte Interface (Tacloban-Basey), North Western Leyte (Ormoc), Northern Leyte (Biliran), Southeastern Samar Island (Guiuan), Southern Leyte (Sogod Bay Area), North Western Samar (Catarman).
Value chain approach for listed TDAs was completed last year as one of the strategies to close.
Under the said strategy, members of the tourism committee listed down constraints, sectors that will address the concern, and available local opportunities that could help solve issues.
The tourism department is eyeing nearly half a million annual tourist arrivals in Eastern Visayas by 2016 with the plan to develop these six strategic areas in the region. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)
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