Magpale, tourism players check out new Cebu spots

CEBU, Philippines -  Tourism stakeholders from both the government and the private sector have checked out new attractions in the southern part of Cebu that could help boost the eco-tourism potential of the province.

The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Foundation led by Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, visited the Aguinid Falls in Samboan and Mainit Spring in Malabuyoc.

Cenelyn Manguilimotan, president of the Hotel, Resorts, and Restaurant Association of Cebu, said that there are a lot of possibilities that the southern part of the province can improve its eco-tourism advantage.

The Aguinid Falls, for instance, Manguilimotan said the group gave inputs on how to develop the area by preserving its natural beauty.

She said the falls will be part of the ecotourism destination of Cebu.

Aside from enabling the residents within the identified eco-tourism attraction, she said tourism leaders are also planning to promote souvenir entrepreneurship in the countryside destinations.

In Samboan, a French national has been providing trainings to women on how to make export quality wooden dolls and other souvenir items, she said.

"For now, they are not selling locally. They export to France. Their products are really good," she said.

The Mainit Spring in Malabuyoc, on the other hand, has a huge potential in fact it has already been attracting several foreign visitors "even though the place is not marketed yet."

Manguilimotan added that part of the group's goal is to teach the people living within the area on how to preserve the place, especially if they will have more visitors.

In an earlier interview with UN-WTO regional vice president for Asia Pacific Lee Choon Loong, he said that eco-tourism component in the world tourism sector is one of the fastest growing sectors.

“The eco-tourism is now a very important buzzword in tourism sector. The Philippines has huge and beautiful natural resources," Lee added.

Lee suggested that Cebu should maximize its rich marine resources in the eco-tourism component, with careful implementation of marine resource preservation, and implementing strongly involvement of the community.

In the Philippines, Department of Tourism assistant secretary for tourism development planning, Rolando Canizal said the department has identified four top eco-tourism destinations these are: Bohol, Palawan, Cagayan Valley and Mt. Apo in Davao.

At present, Costa Rica is the number one eco-tourism destination in the world, because of its organized and systematic policies to promote eco-tourism heavily involving the community to participate reaping the opportunities of tourism. — (FREEMAN)