Tourism: Key in converting global crisis into opportunity

CEBU, Philippines - GANGWON PROVINCE, Republic of Korea – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has called on members of the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum to convert present economic crisis into an opportunity especially in the field of tourism.

“In tourism, as in everything else, every crisis is an opportunity for those who are prepared,” Garcia said in her message addressed to the 9th EATOF General Assembly held here yesterday morning.

Some members of the EATOF fear that the global economic meltdown and the increase in Influenza A cases, or the looming second wave of A(H1N1), worldwide will continue to place tourism in setback.

But Garcia said that “there are signs that in a crisis, people do not exactly stop traveling; they travel differently.” 

“And this change brought about by people’s changing travel habits presents an opportunity for East Asia, more particularly, the members of EATOF, to present ourselves as an alternative destination for travelers everywhere,” Garcia added.

At least 10 provinces out of the 12 EATOF members issued a joint declaration yesterday marking further tourism development and cooperation.

The joint declaration was signed by the representatives from Gangwon Province; Tottori Prefecture (Japan), Tuv Province (Mongolia), Cebu Province (the Philippines), Sarawak Province (Malaysia), Yogyakarta Special Province (Indonesia), Jilin Province (China); Quang Ninh Province (Vietnam); Luang Prabang Province (Laos), and Siem Reap Province (Cambodia).

However, Chiang Mai Province and Primorsky Territory in Thailand and Russia, respectively, failed to send representatives.

Of the 10 present, two are new members – Luang Prabang and Siem Reap provinces.

In a joint declaration signed by the governors, they have agreed on exchanges among EATOF members that will have broad and far-reaching benefits such as expanded tourism potential and promotion of common interests of all regions.

According to the declaration, the EATOF members should form the charter flight and cruise committee, which they believe will strengthen information exchanges and enhance promotion of East Asia’s tourism products.

The member provinces will cooperate in the operation of the committee centering on province with existing flights and cruises.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization was among those who made an assessment of the governors’ declaration which preceded the signing of the joint declaration.

Xu Jing, UNWTO research officer, gave his commitment to work with EATOF and advised members to “ensure development of tourism along the lines of sustainability.”

Xu shared in Cebu’s vision of an environmentally friendly tourism destination, which Garcia mentioned in her speech.

The EATOF, which is technically on its 10th year but on the ninth for its general assembly, is a voluntary, self-financing association with an international cooperation body that brings together provinces and regions from throughout East Asia.

Garcia, in her speech, mentioned that EATOF has evolved from being a forum for the discussion of common concerns and challenges in East Asia tourism into what it is today.

“An active network of participants relentlessly pushing the tourism potentials of the region,” Garcia said.

Governor Kim Jin Sun of Gangwon, the host province of EATOF, said that the forum aims of developing East Asian regions and strengthening friendships among local governments with tourism as the key industry.

In a decade, according to Sun, EATOF has already expanded its multilateral exchanges of people, materials and culture.

“We have consolidated cooperative ties and accomplished remarkable outcomes under the constant care and support of member provinces over the last 10 years,” he said. — Garry B. Lao/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)