UN tourism body backs quake rehab plan

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has committed to support the Philippines’ tourism-related rehabilitation program for areas affected by the powerful earthquake that rocked Bohol and Cebu last Oct. 15.

In a statement posted on its website, the UNWTO said it had transmitted to the Philippine government its commitment to support the Department of Tourism (DOT) “in any tourism-related recovery program to be designed for the affected areas.”

“UNWTO is confident that with the dynamic leadership of the government of the Philippines, Cebu and Bohol, both important tourism destinations, will soon recover from this tragic occurrence and continue to play their significant role in tourism growth to the country,” it said.

The group also expressed its sympathy to those who were affected by the devastation.

“Our thoughts at this difficult moment are with the families and friends of the victims and the government and people of Philippines,” said UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai.

“The livelihood of many people in these destinations depends on the tourism sector and UNWTO stands ready to support the Philippines in ensuring the tourism in these areas continues to thrive,” he said.

Earlier, the DOT said that based on its assessment, the impact of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake to Cebu and Bohol’s tourism efforts would be minimal.

“So far, there is minimal effect on (tourism) traffic as we have reassured travel markets that tourism will normalize soon,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. told The STAR in a text message.

Jimenez, however, said they could not yet provide an estimate on the revenue impact of the calamity in these provinces.

“Disruption is momentary and we expect that Cebu and Bohol, with their very long list of tourism offerings, will regain momentum in no time at all,” he said.

He added that his office would be lending support to the lead agencies that would carry out the rehabilitation of the damaged cultural heritage sites.

“The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, National Museum and National Historical Commission of the Philippines are leading the rehabilitation efforts. DOT will support them,” Jimenez said.

In a travel advisory posted on its Facebook page last Tuesday, the DOT office in Central Visayas appealed to the traveling public to put off any travel plans to areas affected by the earthquake.

It noted that the most hard hit by the quake were the heritage churches of Bohol and Cebu.

Data from the DOT showed that Cebu is one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

With over 1.9 million tourists (872,397 foreign and 1.1 million domestic), Cebu registered the fourth largest volume of tourists in 2011, 12 percent higher than the 1.77 million posted in 2010.

P12 B for Clark airport

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) is setting aside some P1.2 billion for its capital expenditure in 2014 to support its 30 percent target increase in passenger frequency, a top company official said.

CIAC president and CEO Victor Jose Luciano, in an interview with The STAR, said next year’s capex would be more than double the P600 million to P700 million budget allocated for this year.

From only 8,000 passengers at the start of the CIAC operation in 2004, the airport registered some 1.3 million frequency in 2012.

This year, with Air Asia’s decision to concentrate operation in Manila, Luciano said passenger volume of Clark airport is expected to remain the same level as last year.

With additional flights from Middle East such as the maiden flights from Qatar and Emirates, the airport’s frequency will climb to 1.7 million to 1.8 million in 2014.

The expanded Clark Airport, which will now be half of the floor area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport 1, will be inaugurated today in time for Qatar Airways’ maiden flight.