TPB exhibit to show South as next big thing in tourism

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is out to show why Mindanao is the next big thing in Philippine tourism.

A large TPB booth in the Travel Madness Expo at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, will feature Mindanao’s magnificent beauty in all its glory from July 3 to 5.

To be highlighted in the TPB exhibit are Mindanao’s various regions, each featuring a unique and enchanting landscape that exudes the bounty of its natural resources to match its rich and diverse culture.

The South, as it is called, hosts the country’s highest peak (Mount Apo), the deepest trench (Mindanao Deep), the largest city (Davao), the most number of ethnic groups (lumads), the least prone to typhoons (Regions 10, 11 and 12), and is home to the majestic Philippine eagle.

Every region is unique--although mostly Cebuano-speaking and generally dominated by Catholics except for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao--with many ethnic groups of lumads adding color and dimension to an already fascinating socio-cultural demographics.

There is also a visibly growing number of foreigners residing in Mindanao, according to the National Statistics Office. Of the total household population in the South as of year 2000, about 94.1 percent were Filipinos, 0.14 percent Indonesians, 0.07 percent British, and 0.06 percent Americans. Other nationalities accounted for 1.85 percent.

As of that year, more than half of the population in Mindanao were Roman Catholic accounting for 60.9 percent of total households. Islam comprised 20.44 percent. Other religions were Evangelical (5.34 percent), Aglipayan (2.16 percent), Iglesia ni Cristo (1.66 percent), and Seventh-Day Adventist (1.65 percent).

A large proportion (29.19 percent) of households in Mindanao spoke Cebuano at home. This was followed by Bisaya/Binisaya dialect (27.07 percent).

Other major dialects spoken were Hiligaynon/Ilonggo (7.87 percent), Maguindanaon (4.7 percent), and Tausug (4.13 percent).

Among the country’s three main islands, Mindanao has the biggest total land area of about 120,000 sq. km. located in the heart of the Asia-Pacific region.

This and the many other salient features will constitute the Mindanao showcase at the Travel Madness Expo, where it will be arrayed with those of other countries such as Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea, and including Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Sentosa, and Resorts World at Sentosa.

Twenty-four foreign airlines and many other international exhibitors and travel wholesalers are among the hundreds of participants in the expo, which has been attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually.