NEDA: “Tourist arrivals in CV slackened”

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The used-to-be glowing tourist arrivals in Central Visayas region has “slackened,” at least for now, according to director Efren Carreon of the National Economic Development  Authority  Region 7.

Carreon made this statement in his economic report during last Friday’s Regional Development Council meeting, which was presided by newly named RDC chair Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto.

NEDA apparently blamed the onslaught of calamities—magnitude 7.2 earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda—that devastated properties and infrastructures and left thousands dead in the Visayas regions.

Based on his report, Carreon said total tourist arrivals, of both domestic and foreign in Central Visayas, took a nosedive at 0.66 percent during the first quarter this year, very much lower than the 21.72 percent in the same period last year.

Foreign arrivals posted a negative 6.34 percent during the first quarter, lower than 20.86 percent in the same period last year, while domestic tourists dropped to 5.94 percent from 22.38 percent during the same period, the report showed.

Bohol province, for its part, had a double-digit negative figure (-11.93%) in tourist arrivals during first quarter of this year, down from 21.80 period during the same period last year. Cebu posted a decrease of 0.32 percent than its previous arrivals of 21.52 percent, while Siquijor’s negative (-1.88%) was way below its previous record of 13.62 percent. Only Negros Oriental posted positive double digit arrivals although this was still far below from its earlier record of 23.87 percent, NEDA said.

Earlier in Panglao town of Bohol, the Philippine Tour Operators Association  during its members’ tour of the province, said that key tourism players should urged government officials to put in place first the tourism infrastructure and first-rate transportation system, particularly in this province.

Chatto said this was a concern to be deliberated again by finding out what PhilTOA can do about it, such as in striking a balance for investors on transportation and the need for meeting the standards imposed on their services for the benefit of their passengers.

Mayor Dodong Amper of Anda town, during the PhilTOA presscon at Bluewater Resort last week, also called for more infrastructures, like paved roads, for smooth travel of tourists. Anda town is about 100 kilometers east of the capital city of Tagbilaran. 

PhilTOA president Cesar Cruz himself, described Anda’s white sand beaches as finer than Boracay’s, but the town, especially those in its hinterland barangays, still needs wider paved roads for easy access and tours.

Since the magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Bohol in October last year, the province is still struggling now in making tourism vibrant again, although it is now becoming a favorite destination of passengers on cruise ships, two of which had dropped anchor here this year.

Cruise ships however have problems in their Bohol visit. They could not take proper berthing at the Tagbilaran seaport and were forced to drop anchors about a kilometer offshore. Solution is now being planned though, such as the international cruise ship anchorage port, somewhere between Sandingan and Cabilao islands, off Loon town.

Regarding air travel, the increasing number of visitors has found an inadequate airport space for landing and lack of facilities for night landing, which limits the capacity of arrivals, said an official.

The provincial government now hopes that the construction of the New Bohol Airport with international standards would soon start after several postponements in the bidding process. The proposed new airport in this town was conceived more than 20 years ago with the need to replace the aging Tagbilaran airport.

Officials here still expressed optimism about the national government’s promise of infra development program in line with the National Tourism Development Plan, such as enhancing the capacity and productivity of airport and seaports.

Transportation services in the province are still in poor condition to this day, as most of them could barely pass international quality standards, according to PhilTOA.  (FREEMAN)