The next tourism head

I usually wind down the night watching the late night news. As I thumbed through the local channels, the announcement of Boy Abunda caught my ear to make a brief stop on his showbiz talkshow that I barely follow.

In that episode, one could easily tell that he was slighted (his exact words, “I take offense”) over the criticism of the qualified and the more credentialed that he is unfit to become the tourism secretary after it was offered to him like in a silver platter by president-apparent Noynoy Aquino in appreciation for his support in the last elections.

Abunda said of himself that he was a “serious entertainer” – that alone should make his critics seriously think that he is not what most people think of showbiz personalities whose common credentials, I think, are their retouched faces and their antics to manipulate their lachrymal glands.

Strangely though, Boy denied that there was such an offer --- and even if there was, he will not take it.

But he believes that being in show business is already an advantage as tourism revolves around entertainment. It is no argument that entertainment is what tourists seek in a vacation but I would not like to think that showbiz entertainment is the kind entertainment they would like to waste their time to.

But can we trust someone from showbiz like Boy Abunda to head the tourism department? Of course. Boy rose out of poverty by sheer hard work and honesty to become what he is and who he is today – a respected showbiz icon and among the most influential TV personalities in the country.

But to head an agency like the Department of Tourism (DOT) takes more than just a question of trust but a question of who can bring in the goods. Boy is more of a communications person while tourism work is very much of a “local initiative.” The hint of politics in local tourism is very much a problem. Which means, he needs to get the cooperation of, or worse play politics at times, with local government personalities to support his program – something that Boy is not exposed to and something he probably is not ready for.

I don’t even believe either that the DOT has to be run by someone like the qualifications of a technocrat. I believe that the tourism post has to be left to the charge of someone who comes from the industry.

Cebu has a pool of highly qualified leaders who have been actively involved in shaping the tourism sector for a long time.

She would hate me for writing this, my erstwhile teacher, Dr. Milagros Espina, is one person I know whose sincere pursuit in the cause of tourism never wears her out. Back in her days in the academe, she was already very much into tourism promotion.

Until now, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has depended on her expertise and capability as its chairperson of the tourism committee. In an interview with this paper lately, she suggested that the next DOT secretary must develop the charisma and “human touch” in dealing with multifarious personalities of the stakeholders and tourism community. I know that she already has a candidate in mind but I think her humility evades her that the qualities she was talking about are the qualities that she already possessed.

And yes, secretary Ace Durano is still by far one of the best DOT secretaries we have. His helm can best be marked with the historic increase in tourist visits and new destinations across the country.

If that chance is given to another Cebuano to lead the DOT, expect another feather in the cap of the new administration.

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