Setback seen

Group says reshuffling of tourism reg'l directors to affect programs

THE reshuffling of the tourism regional directors to other regions and other sectors of the Department of Tourism (DOT) will affect the smooth enforcement of earlier planned tourism-related programs, said a tourism association based in Davao.

In a statement released by the Guides Union of Inbound Destination and Eco-tourism (Guide Davao), they expressed concern over the order signed by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo which assigns Tourism Davao Regional Director Robby Alabado III to head Medical Tourism as well as 25 other regional directors assigned to different regions and assignments in the sector.

“The recent development of reshuffling the tourism regional directors by the Office of the Department of Tourism has created a dilemma among local stakeholders with regards to the programs that were already created. There are reservations as to how those programs that were painstakingly planned and organized under the guidance and encouragement of the past regional directors will be implemented by the current appointees,” said Guide Davao’s official statement.

Further, they also showed concern over how the tourism plans would effectively and smoothly be implemented as the new regional director was not involved in the planning since the beginning and would still need to learn the nuances of Davao Tourism.

This statement was also what City Tourism