Tourism chief hails Sulu’s transformation
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco hailed the significant transformation of Sulu from a once sleepy and war-ravaged province to what it is now, a vibrant place where locals and tourists enjoy the peaceful ambience and economic progress of this culturally rich island.
Gov. Sakur Tan led local mayors and stakeholders in welcoming Frasco, who arrived here on Wednesday with her team. She was the first Tourism secretary to have visited Sulu, said Tan who referred to the secretary as his “adopted granddaughter” during her visit.
“Actually, you are the first to visit us here. We were visited by presidents and members of the Cabinet in the past, but never by the secretary of Tourism. Our gratitude is beyond words to express,”Tan told Frasco.
“Your coming here conveys that we are open to the world, that the province of Sulu is ready, very much ready for tourism.”
Frasco also engaged with Tan and convened with the entire assembly of 19 municipal mayors before witnessing a cultural showcase.
“I am immensely grateful and happy to find myself here in the beautiful province of Sulu, to see for myself that Sulu is ready for tourism under the able and visionary leadership of your governor,” Frasco said.
Frasco also said that tourism has emerged as one of the most robust pillars of our economy.
In 2022, it played a pivotal role by providing over 5.35 million jobs for Filipinos.
“In terms of our gross domestic product, tourism contributed a substantial P1.87 trillion to the economy in 2022 and P482 billion in 2023,” she said.
Frasco also announced plans for the construction of a Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Sulu, marking the first of its kind in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
She said this initiative serves as a gesture of appreciation to the province of Sulu for their dedicated efforts in promoting the province as a tourist destination.
“What this TRA can and will do, apart from ensuring tourist convenience, is to convey to the world the government’s confidence in the tourism potential and tourism development of your province,” Frasco said.
She also said that the commitment to Sulu’s tourism development is evident through the department’s support for Sulu, including its promotion through the Travel Philippines App, enhanced connectivity via the exploration of commercial flights, and the promotion of the country’s Muslim-friendly and Halal tourism portfolio.
The Tausug community also presented a captivating cultural showcase at the Sumadja Hall of the Capitol Complex in Patikul town.
The cultural presentation featured performances such as the “suling” (small bamboo flute), “luguh” (arpeggios and trill notes with melismatic overtures song), “linggisan” (traditional fingernails dance), “gabbang/biyula” (bamboo xylophone), “panamung sug” (a fashion exhibition highlighting traditional Tausug clothing, textiles, and creative expressions), as well as the “pangalay ha patung” (bamboo dance).
Additionally, a medley of Tausug songs was performed by the local group, Sulu Stars.
Adding to the visual spectacle, multiple “taguri” or Sulu kites, also considered a competitive sport here, adorned the Capitol.
Frasco said the Department of Tourism (DoT) reaffirms its commitment towards sustainable tourism development initiatives in the Philippines, particularly in the development and promotion of the country’s dive tourism where Sulu is also famous for.
Frasco said as one of the megadiverse countries in the world, the Philippines is home to more than 500 species of corals and 2,000 species of fish.
“Therefore, this distinction for the Philippines we take to heart with a firm commitment to ensure not just the marketability, but more importantly, the sustainability of our dive industry,” she said, noting that in 2023, dive tourism contributed more than P73 billion to the country’s economy, or almost twice the P37 billion revenue generated from the industry in 2022.
“United under the guidance and visionary leadership of our President, we can look forward to yielding additional revenue from this industry, reinforcing the Philippine position as the World’s Premier Dive Destination and tourism’s role, as now one of the strongest pillars of our economy, providing livelihood and employment for millions of Filipinos,” she said.
Fully cognizant of the prospects of dive tourism, the DoT has proactively led interventions to further develop and promote the sector. The Tourism department introduced various dive festivals and programs in several regions across the country in support of dive tourism, including the successful inaugural Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue last September in Cebu.
To prioritize a safe and enjoyable experience for divers, the DoT through its Dive Committee and infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, has committed to providing additional hyperbaric chambers in strategic locations across the country, including Boracay Island, Camiguin, Daanbantayan in Cebu, Dumaguete, and Puerto Galera.