Stigma of terrorism still haunts Mindanao tourism

CEBU, Philippines — Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippine archipelago and home to several natural wonders, is until this day hounded by the stigma of crime and violence attached to the perceived terrorism on the island.

The island has a lot more to offer for the tourism industry, however, local and foreign tourists alike have this negative perception of Mindanao owing to negative news that have painted the region as a dangerous place.

Department of Tourism (DOT) undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar said DOT wants to eradicate that bad image and position Mindanao as Asia’s next Muslim-friendly destination. Despite efforts, Mindanao tourism continues to lag behind other regions in the country.

In her keynote speech during the Cebu Tourism Forum held on July 3, 2024, themed “Dayon Kamo: Reimagining Sugbo Tourism,” led by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Valderrosa-Abubakar shared insights about the state of tourism in Mindanao.

DOT 2022 statistics showed that only 1.2 percent of travelers to the island were international, while 98.8 percent were domestic travelers.

Mindanao recorded 7,120,694 overnight travelers, which is significantly lower compared to Luzon’s 20,000,000 and Visayas’ around 7,500,000 overnight travelers. Valderrosa-Abubakar noted that while Mindanao’s numbers are close to those of Visayas, they are still the lowest among the three major group of islands.

Moreover, the distribution of tourism income, which is heavily skewed towards international travelers. Mindanao contributes only 3.1 percent of this income, compared to Visayas’ 31.3 percent and Luzon’s 65.7 percent.

Valderrosa-Abubakar believed that this disparity is attributed to negative perceptions about Mindanao, often seen as a danger zone due to past issues with terrorism and insurgency.

To combat these perceptions and promote tourism, the DOT has initiated efforts such as the Mindanao Tourism Convergence. This initiative involves collaboration with the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to ensure safety and security for travelers.

“We always keep in touch with our authorities to make sure that everything is alright in our area,” Valderrosa-Abubakar told The Freeman.

The DOT has also launched the “Colors of Mindanao” campaign, a flagship project to promote the island’s diverse tourism offerings.

Each color represents a different aspect of tourism: blue for dive tourism, teal for sun and beach, green for eco-tourism, brown for farm tourism, violet for culture and heritage, red for adventure and sports, orange for food tourism, and yellow for faith tourism.

Valderrosa-Abubakar emphasized that all places in Mindanao are safe to visit, provided that travelers coordinate with the DOT provincial and city offices.

She recommended that, as with any travel destination, visitors should seek advice from travel agencies and tour operators to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

“... (just like) anywhere in the Philippines it will always be nice… before you plan in (on) going to a certain area you seek the advice of travel agencies (and) tourist operators… (about) the places that you would like to visit and go to… It’s basically the same in Mindanao,” she said.  — Renee Ross Villariasa, CNU Intern