Bicol eyes mutual tourism pact with CV

CEBU, Philippines - Bicol Region, which is one of the country’s adventure tourism destination, wants to forge a mutual tourism campaign with Central Visayas.

Region 5 (Bicol Region) tourism regional director Maria O. Ravanilla believes that both regions have complementing tourists attractions that if promoted together will give tourists more options to enjoy.

“It’s good that Cebu Pacific has opened up a direct flight from Cebu to Legaspi,” Ravanilla said emphasizing that this facility will boost each region’s tourism industry because of easier transportation access.

With the direct flight now available, tourists from Cebu is only an hour away from Bicol’s must-see places such as the world-known Mayon Volcano in Albay, whale-shark interaction in Donsol, Sorgoson, extreme sports-adventure in Camarines Sur and other nature-based activities in the area.

Bicol Region is composed of six provinces that include; Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.

According to Ravanilla, Central Visayas can be a perfect destination partner for Bicol because the two regions offer diverse tourists’ activity options, that will range from extreme adventure activities to five-star and six-star accommodation facilities in Cebu, and many more options.

A latest arrival record of Region 5 revealed that its number one foreign market is French, followed by Americans, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese.

In 2008, foreign arrivals to Bicol increased by 135 percent to 245 foreign tourists visited Bicol last year, because of the improved choices in adventure tourism activities, boosted by the recent shoot of reality television show in France—the French Survivor.

While Bicol attracts more of the adventurous tourists, Central Visayas on the other hand is also strong in attracting sophisticated travelers including the corporate market.

In Cebu alone, Ravanilla said moneyed tourists that are staying in six-star or five-star resorts can be offered an option for a more diverse adventure activities, and see the historical and majestic-perfect-cone of Mayon Volcano in Albay in just an hour travel by air.

“Now, it’s no longer inconvenient for tourists to hop from one region to another because we have direct flights already. Cebu can be our partner in boosting tourism arrivals. We can also offer options to our visitors to extend their vacation to Cebu,” Ravanilla said.

European tourists for instance are very adventurous and demand for wider cultural emersion options, Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas like Bohol, Negros and Siquijor can be offered as alternative destinations not only for European visitors, but also for other nationalities, including the domestic tourists.

The diverse culinary offering that both regions offer can also be a good come-on for tourists to try on the different food preparation each province has to offer.

At present, there is no formal partnership yet between the two regions in terms of joint promotional package, including active linkage of private travel operators in both regions.