EDITORIAL - Back in business

Nearly 10 months ago Abu Sayyaf marauders staged yet another daring raid. They picked an unlikely target; no one thought the terrorists would venture so far out of their stronghold in Basilan, crossing the Sulu Sea to raid the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan. Their haul was impressive: several local guests with money to pay for ransom, plus three Americans who, if they could not pay their way to freedom, could be used for political propaganda.

There were other victims on that day, however. One was Dos Palmas, a relatively new resort on Arreceffi Island, whose business inevitably plunged after the sensational raid. The other was the entire tourism industry, particularly Palawan which hosts some of the country’s most popular eco-tourism destinations.

Tourism officials tried everything – damage control abroad, marketing missions within the government’s tight budget. But most potential travelers apparently took one look at a world map and thought that Basilan and Palawan are within spitting distance of Manila. Then they watched TV and learned that American hostage Guillermo Sobero had been decapitated while the others remained in captivity. Finally there was 9-11, and the international travel industry collapsed. By October Dos Palmas was forced to shut down.

But not for long. This weekend, even as the hunt for the Abu Sayyaf continues, Dos Palmas reopened. American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, two of the guests snatched from the resort, remain captives of the terrorists, but Dos Palmas isn’t going to sit around waiting for that crisis to be over. The resort hasn’t changed its name and has refused to be gobbled up by bigger resort management companies. And it sees better business amid a continuing terrorist threat.

The defiant spirit should serve as an inspiration for the tourism industry. Bombings and terrorism have not kept away tourists from London, New York, even the Middle East. Jerusalem and surrounding areas have not lost their appeal to travelers. The Philippines will have to act decisively on the kidnapping problem, and it can’t be business as usual for the travel industry. As one ranking American official declared recently, terrorism is here to stay. But life goes on, and people will start traveling again. They will look for the best packages, the best scenic spots and services. The travel industry must continue doing its best to make the country an attractive destination.