An eye-opening tour in Western Visayas
One of the main priorities for Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) VP for inbound Danilo Cerdeña was to take members of the association to destinations in the country where tourism potential abounds.
It is a forward-thinking approach that is aimed at providing PTAA members access and networks to new and rising destinations which they can market to their respective clients. This will not only sustain their businesses but, more importantly, expand them.
Cerdeña believes that through familiarization tours, PTAA can assist the country in sustaining and evolving its fast-growing tourism industry, where the association plays a very crucial role.
“We wanted to take our members to destinations less traveled and needing exposure. At the very least, we wanted to create awareness for them, which we believe these destinations sorely deserve,” Cerdeña said.
It is the starting point for the PTAA to assist in the development of other local destinations that offer varied experiences for its visitors.
So, for four days, the PTAA took its members to half of Western Visayas. It was filled with fun, adventure, gastronomic delights, and a better understanding of tourism realities in the region.
Townships
The PTAA familiarization tour went to the provinces of Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo — the first two are not the typical tourist destinations in the region.
This is very much evident in the fact that out of the current 28,000 rooms available in Western Visayas, the three provinces only combine for 4,400 rooms. At present, the bulk of the rooms in the region are located in Boracay and its surrounding areas.
But slowly, developments are taking place. Investors are starting to recognize the potential of these three provinces and are now constructing establishments that are expected to increase tourism arrivals.
With transportation provided by Southwest Travel & Tours, the PTAA group, on its first day was greeted with sporadic rains and a 500-hectare project in Roxas City, which has the making of an ultra-modern township with all the amenities of a central business district.
Dubbed as Pueblo De Panay, the PTAA was told that the project is being spearheaded by Capiz-based Ong family, and will carry a mall, multiple hotels, MICE facilities, a techno park and educational institutions.
On its early stages of development, Pueblo De Panay is expected to increase the number of tourists in the province over the next few years.
Meanwhile, the quaint Guimaras, with its pristine environment, is also slowly having its share of tourism development.
On its visit to the province, the members of the PTAA were welcomed into the yet to be opened upscale sevenhectare Andana Resorts.
While not exactly a township, Andana will become the biggest resort in the region outside of Boracay. With close to 300 rooms, it will more than double the current room availability in the province.
Developed by Danea Corp., the PTAA members had the pleasure of meeting its owner, Danny Ang, during their time in the resort. They were shown the facilities of the resort, from standard to family rooms, and the new concept of the beach pod rooms.
The resort is being touted as the next biggest destination especially with the upcoming bridge connecting Iloilo and Guimaras.
Lastly, in Iloilo, the 72-hectare township being developed by Megaworld is more than halfway complete.
During stopovers in the township, the PTAA members were given a glimpse of restaurants, hotels, condominiums, building offices, open parks, a convention center, and the almost complete 1.1-kilometer Festive Walk.
The township is near other developments in Iloilo City, including the City Time Square and its popular thousand roses attraction, the 1.2-kilometer Esplanade River Walk, and even an exclusive bicycle lane where some PTAA members drove through almost the full length.
Nearby are also some developments being done by one of the province’s favorite resident, Edgar Sia II, and his publicly listed Double Dragon company.
Among his projects include Injap Tower, which the PTAA members were told was a play on how Sia looked — a bit Chinese and Japanese. His other projects in Iloilo include The Uptown Place, People’s Condominium and First Homes Subdivision.
How Iloilo City is being developed is something that Metro Manila should envy. It has been well-thought-out and the execution has been very disciplined. It recognizes and is preserving its rich history and culture and yet has its eye toward modernity and convenience for its residents.
And as the PTAA members were told, Iloilo is not competing with any province or city in the country. It wants to be at par with the best cities in Asia.
In Iloilo, the PTAA was graciously hosted at the heritage hotel, The Mansion.
Food overload
At every stop during the familiarization tour, the PTAA members were treated with some of the best dishes from the region. From breakfast to dinner, diet was not an option.
Capiz is the country’s seafood capital and the meals provided were nothing short of an overload for everyone, especially at the Palina Greenbelt Ecopark, where the PTAA members had their lunch on the first day.
Never mind the lechon that was served; the overflow of squid, lobster, prawns, oysters and giant lapu-lapu was an experience in itself.
The ecopark, whose rebuilding and further development was funded by the PTAA, is being run by fishermen residents in the area and has welcomed more than 52,000 guests over the past six years.
At every stop, from the office of Capiz Gov. Antonio Del Rosario all the way to the business-to-business meetings with tour operators in the province, the PTAA members were treated to the province’s best delicacies,
tsokolate and its own coffee brew. Over in Iloilo, the dinner buffet at Seda Hotel was something the members would remember for a while with its mouthwatering beef, pork and seafood dishes along with some great desserts.
Then there was the dinner hosted by the Department of Tourism Region VI at Days Hotel, where PTAA members were treated to more of the popular seafood dishes in the region.
Overwhelming success
The Western Visayas swing was the second domestic familiarization tour for the PTAA this year, after Catanduanes.
Looking at the camaraderie that was built among members during the tour, along with the friendship and networks that were established, this has to rank as one of the most successful familiarization tours the PTAA has ever done.
The tour has in more ways affirmed that the association is in the right path, not just with its familiarization tours, but how it pushes forward the best interests of its members and the country’s tourism industry.