Tourism without terrorism: The larger issues
The Philippines is not a group of islands surrounded by bodies of water. It is really one body of water sprinkled with hundreds of islands. That should be the tagline that tour operators should use in selling our country to the world. Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu have been chosen as three of the most beautiful islands in the world. And tourism advocates led by the DOT Secretary were looking forward to hundreds of thousandsAmericans, Europeans, andAsians coming into our country in droves and multitudes to see the beauty of our archipelago. And yet, in the same week, the Abu Sayyaf invaded Inabanga, Bohol, one of our prime tourist attractions. The US advisory was accurate. This seems to be the curse of the times: tourism is always sabotaged by terrorism.
Look at Zamboanga. It used to be one of our top tourist attractions; a city of flowers and made famous by its alluring Pasonanca Park, its barter trade where tourists could buy unique souvenir items from Malaysia and Indonesia, and exotic food items for pasalubongs. But today, its image is ruined by constant threats of kidnappings, terrorist attacks, and mysterious disappearances of tourists. Even Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, they are among our jewels in terms of beaches, exotic fruits, and exciting sites, with a rich culture, history, music and arts. I stayed in Tawi-Tawi for a week when I worked for our OFWs in Malaysia. And I can testify that Bongao, the capital town, is ten times safer than Metro Manila, with friendlier and gentler folks, and with an ambiance that makes one exclaim how great is our creator who gave us all the beauty and bounty of nature.
The Visayas, Cebu most importantly, should be spared from the stigma of terrorism. Thousands of Cebuanos rely on domestic and international tourists who come into our resorts and hotels, eat in our restaurants, buy our delicacies and guitars. They come and spend millions of dollars monthly, and give jobs to Cebuanos, Boholanos, and Negrenses. Many foreign tourists even buy condos and come here regularly. Others get a wife or a husband or romantic partners and engage in tourism-related businesses themselves. Many of our cottages in Moalboal, Badian, in Mactan, and in Panglao, even in Siquijor and Dumaguete are owned and operated by Japanese, Taiwanese, Koreans, Germans, and Americans. The wives and girlfriends are the willing business partners. It is not just the butandings in Oslob but also the lure of the beaches all around, from Santander to Malapascua. But then again, the threats.
There is a theory among experts that the invasion in Inabanga, the forced occupation of government units in Pandi, Bulacan, and the bombing in Davao are all interconnected. They are being planned and strategized by the National Democratic Front and the CPP/NPA in support of the peace negotiations in Oslo and the Netherlands. Negotiating from a position of strength, showing to the government peace panel that the Duterte administration should take them seriously. There seems to be a tactical alliance between the rebels in Mindanao and the communists. And so, if the tourism leaders in the country want a lasting peace and an uninterrupted business, the matters should be included in the agenda between Joma Sison and Secretary Bebot Bello. Let us look at the bigger picture and also negotiate peace with a total strategy.