By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo / Special to the BusinessMirror
Conclusion
THE Great Santa Cruz Island in Zamboanga, which recently landed on National Geographic Magazine’s top 21 beaches in the world, is another priority for the Department of Tourism (DOT).
“Hardly lacking in gorgeous beaches, the Philippines claims a pink-sand variety, too,” the magazine said. “The blush color comes from billions of pieces of crushed red organ-pipe coral, seen in every handful of sand.”
Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo expressed pride in the citation from the prestigious international magazine. She instructed Region 9 Director Antonio Fernando M. Blanco to coordinate with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) to assist the local government in upgrading facilities on the island, providing additional cottages and offering more nature-based recreational activities. Tieza, an attached agency of the DOT, specializes in building infrastructure and facilities in tourism destinations, as well as promoting investments in designated tourism economic zones.
“The planned development will highlight its conservation and preservation, it being a protected area. Nonetheless, the outcome should enable locals and foreign visitors alike to enjoy the island’s beauty but still strictly maintaining it as a day destination,” Teo said. “We would like to attract genuine ecotourists as they take ‘responsible, ethical and sustainable tourism’ to heart.”
Steamed crab
MAJOR carriers fly to Zamboanga City, which also has quite a number of hotels and resorts.
The island is right across the Lantaka Hotel, one of the oldest in the city, which makes the latter the best place to stay if planning to visit the Pink Beach. The hotel can arrange the island tour, which has to be coordinated with the provincial tourism office, as the government regulates the number of visitors to the island.
The city is also known for its curracha, a spiny sea crab steamed then smothered in a coconut milk and crab fat-based sauce, popularized by its most respected dining establishment, Alavar Restaurant.
There were 409,156 visitor arrivals in Zamboanga City in 2015.
Walled City
TEO has also put Intramuros on the DOT’s list of destinations that need to be further developed and promoted. Currently in an ongoing rehabilitation phase, the Walled City gives tourists a glimpse into Manila’s Spanish colonial heritage.
It is the site of Fort Santiago, where National Hero Jose Rizal was imprisoned; San Agustin Church, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and a prime example of baroque architecture in the Philippines; the Manila Cathedral, which recently got a face-lift, where visiting popes usually say Mass; and the Ayuntamiento, formerly the lavish seat of the Manila City Council, which also underwent a renovation and now houses the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr). Tours in the Ayuntamiento need to be coursed through the Department of Finance or the BTr. There are accommodations within Intramuros itself, such as The Bayleaf Hotel, although the site is quite accessible from most hotels in Manila, via a short walk, a jeepney ride, or cab ride.
Northern destination
IN the north, the DOT wants to encourage more visitors to Baler, in Aurora, which has proven to be another popular surfing area.
Sabang Beach is the location of most surfing activities, while those who just want to relax and frolic in calmer waters can go to Dikasalarin Cove. Just a short walk from Sabang Beach is Charlie’s Point, where a beach scene from the classic film Apocalypse Now, was shot.
A number of international bird societies also have been tracking migratory birds that spend their summer in Baler. There were 154,526 tourists in Baler in 2015, not including the birds.
Baler is also rich in history; it is where the infamous “Siege of Baler” happened. Fifty-seven Spanish soldiers held out at a local church for a year against Filipino troops, not knowing the Spanish-American War had already ended.
The story was actually made the basis for the local film Baler, which was said to have helped boost travel arrivals in the province, as it showcased the local tourist spots. The event is also commemorated every year on June 30 during the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day.
Accommodations in Baler range from the basic inns and transient houses, to luxury resorts such as the highly rated Costa Pacifica, owned by the Angara family. The Genesis Bus Co. has regular trips to Baler from Cubao and Pasay, via air-conditioned bus. Joy Bus has standard air-conditioned buses and deluxe buses with seats that recline and leave from its Cubao, Quezon City, terminal.
The trip lasts nine hours so it’s better for one to leave in the evening and arrive in Baler greeting the new day.
Tourism road map
NO doubt, the Philippines has more places to offer for both foreign and domestic tourists to enjoy. Not all, however, are ready to receive them due to limited accommodations and, worse, poor connectivity.
According to the National Tourism Development Plan for 2016 to 2022, the DOT’s tourism road map, the Duterte administration intends to spend P810 billion during its six years in office to construct vital infrastructure, such as roads, ports and bridges, to improve access to tourism destinations; expand the capacity of secondary international airports; and market competitive tourism destinations, among others.
With this government outlay, along with investments from the private sector targeted at P414.14 billion for the same period, the Duterte administration hopes to attract 12 million foreign visitors and 89.2 million domestic tourists in the Philippines.
With deliberate planning, and well-placed investment and marketing strategies, slowly but surely, the Philippines will take its place among the most richly rewarded tourism destinations in Southeast Asia, if not the world.
Image credits: Alysa Salen