"Duplication" of tour packages addressed

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — The Bohol provincial government has started embarking on a paradigm shift in the overall tourism package of the province to sustain the province’s slot in the nationwide top list of tourist’s destinations.

Governor Edgar Chatto said the new tourism approach will eventually address this issue on duplication of tour packages among the towns. He cited, as an example, the EAT Danao and the Loboc zipline that he clarified however as complementing each other.

“Duplication” is a reality that must be given attention, Chatto said, but then Danao and Loboc are convenient options for tourists, such that those who have limited time will really tend to opt for the Loboc zipline, which is only 20 kilometers from the capital city, instead of going to Danao, which is over 90 kilometers away from the city.

The governor said this is inevitable reality in the market forces, especially that the preference of the tourists will have to be considered: Some of them want a longer trip while others want to maximize their limited time for the travel.

Chatto issued the statement on the reported duplication during a recent interaction with the local media when asked to comment on the 2011 COA report, which attributed the drop of incomes of Danao and Carmen towns, both tourism key areas, to duplication of tourist’s attractions, such as ziplines and butterfly gardens, among others.

“The provincial government is embarking now on the reforms within our tourism set up in our provincial government. A different specific body will focus on promotion, while the regulatory function will be handled by a different body. But both will be based in the same tourism office,” Chatto explained.

The new tourism strategy is intended to address other issues on rules and policies as well, and will involve the private sector that will find ways into the policy on implementation level.

The governor admitted that he received negative feedback on this move from some municipal officials and he understood this because the new set-up will limit their control in their decisions on how far they can go for tourism development in their locality.