Central Philippines eyed as world tourist destination

The government will develop to the fullest various advantages of Central Philippines to make this super region a world-class tourist destination.

“We must develop its carrying capacity to attract more tourists and to make them feel comfortable,” President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Monday during the Tribuna España-Filipinas forum in Manila.

To fully develop the Central Philippines, she said the government will continue implementing vital public infrastructure projects and forge stronger ties with Spain so that communication as well as movement of people and goods within, emanating from and flowing into this super region can be facilitated.

More tourism activities are expected to help generate additional jobs in the super region to help lower poverty incidence there.

Mrs. Arroyo said Central Philippine areas of Bicol, the Visayas including Romblon Island, Palawan, northern Camiguin and Siargao continue topping the list of Philippine tourist destinations which most people visit.

“We’ll prioritize developing these since about 60 percent of our foreign tourists visit such places,” she said.

The President believes having Spain as a development partner will augur well for Central Philippines’ transformation into an eco-tourism destination. She said that country is experienced with such, having progressed into a becoming first-world State mainly through tourism.

Mrs. Arroyo likewise pointed out Spain can help push the government’s development thrust because that country is targeting more investments in the East as indicated in its 2005-2008 Asia-Pacific (AP) Plan of Action.

“We’re happy Spain isn’t just looking at giants like Japan, China and Korea but also an old friend, the Philippines,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo is inviting the Spanish business community to invest in tourism ventures in the country.

Government's projects for Central Philippines are part of the P370 billion 2007-2010 public infrastructure program President Arroyo announced during her State of the Nation Address this year.

Malacanang earlier said the program’s implementation is now possible because its fiscal reforms are raising revenues for such purpose. (PNA)