Tourism: Despite threats, let’s move ahead

Just yesterday, we were informed that the Bohol native who joined and guided the Abu Sayyaf in Inabanga, Bohol was killed during the encounter in the town of Clarin. To recall, these bandits went to the Island of Bohol through the Inabanga River. Allegedly, a test mission for the Bohol native who was groomed for a leadership role, they were supposed, as usual, to kidnap foreign and local tourists alike for ransom. Well, their usual fund raising activity.

Sadly, while for the bandits, activities such as this would mean bounty, for Bohol and its residents, this means scarcity. Undeniably, the Province of Bohol, lacking in job-generating activities like huge manufacturing firms and business process outsourcing outfits, relies so much on tourism for employment. So that, an incident like this is just so draining and frustrating.

However, there are, at least, two undertakings that we may have to pin our hopes on. First and foremost, the relentless pursuit of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police of these bandits which has, so far, been producing encouraging results.

Secondly, the decision of the ASEAN leadership to go on, as scheduled, one of its very significant meetings in Panglao, Bohol. At least, with these two undertakings, we will be able to convince foreign governments and our own domestic tourists that the situation in Bohol is under control. That in due time, we will be able to rid Bohol and Central Visayas of these bandits.

Indeed, tourism’s potential cannot be overlooked. The fact is, even if some countries in the world maybe in chaos, globally, tourism has continued to flourish. A survey published by the World Economic Forum (The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017) confirms this.

Topped again by Spain (also no. 1 in the 2015 survey), it seems that it has even continued to grow in Europe (six of the top 10 countries are in Europe) despite threats in the entire continent.

Clearly, the T&T sector remains very significant for the world economy. As reported in the recent survey, the T&T sector accounts for 10% of the global economy. It contributes, among others, to a sizeable share of global employment and has also provided an important opportunity for developing countries to improve and aim for bigger shares of the pie.

Consequently, uniquely blessed with at least 7,100 islands, we aren’t letting this opportunity pass our way unnoticed. Notably, after being named in 2013 as the “most improved country” in the Asia Pacific region, “ranking 16th regionally and 82nd overall” (up 12 places since the 2011 survey), we were up eight notches as we placed 74th in the 2015 survey. We ranked highly on account of our strengths in natural resources, price competitiveness, and a very strong — and improving — prioritization of the Travel & Tourism industry. Moreover, our marketing and branding campaigns are also seen to be increasingly effective.

Sadly though, we went down in the latest survey (2017) by five as we are now at no. 79. Well, it is not because we did not do anything to improve but because other countries did a lot more. For instance, Vietnam was right behind us at no. 75 in the 2015 survey but is way up in the 2017 survey at no. 67.

Indeed, though we are down by a few notches, this news is still very encouraging globally. However, nationally, tourism remains a big concern. While the country is now ranked 79th, other countries (not only Vietnam) in the ASEAN, likewise improved their rankings. So that among the ASEAN member nations, we remain in 6th place, a very far 6th behind Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Why are these countries ahead of us? The answer is very simple, the lack of tourism-related infrastructure. Take the case of Bohol, Panglao Island, in particular. With poor and inadequate roads in the 1980s, Panglao Island was hardly accessible. Thus, it never brought in so much visitors.

Last January, however, during our PICPA’s (Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants) Visayas Geographical Area Office Conference, in Panglao, Bohol, it will just take us several minutes to hop from one resort to another due to better infrastructure. Notably, the crowd was a good mix of Caucasians and Asians. Decent entertainments abound and tourists are partying and frolicking night and day with their friends and families.

So that, as the ASEAN, as a whole, entertains nearly 100 million tourists annually and gears up for ecotourism, we (all LGUs) should likewise prepare by replicating what Bohol did. Remember, we already have interesting destinations. The only concern is, making these spots reachable. Just requiring roads, these will only need minimal investment. With such minimal investment, it shall generate jobs and certainly reinvigorate the countryside. Consequently, it shall prevent rural flight or rural exodus and decongest highly urbanized cities.

Therefore, despite all these threats, let us move ahead.