KASABAY ng pangako na pantay-pantay na tourism development sa buong bansa, inihayag ni Tourism Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco na patuloy na isusulong ng Department of Tourism (DOT) ang pagbubukas ng maraming tourist destination partikular na sa Mindanao.
“Well, first of course we recognize our strengths and we will capitalize on the further development of our key destinations. We all know where they are: Cebu, Boracay, Palawan, up and coming Siargao, and several other destinations. But at the same time, we will give opportunities for equal tourism development and promotion of other jurisdictions,” saad ni Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco, Department of Tourism.
Tiniyak din ni Sec. Frasco na handa ang kasalukuyang administrasyon na patuloy na buksan ang turismo sa Mindanao.
Kamakailan lamang ay naglunsad ng Mindanao Tourism Expo ang DOT kung saan ipinakilala ang magagandang destinasyon sa anim na rehiyon sa Mindanao.
“Bago lang natin inilunsad ang pinakaunang Mindanao Tourism Expo. Inimbitahan natin ang lahat ng ating regional directors at stakeholders. Nag-sponsor tayo sa kanilang familiarization tours upang mas ma-explore nila ang iba’t ibang destinasyon roon,” ani Sec. Frasco.
Kaugnay nito, ay papasok naman ang DOT sa isang memorandum of agreement kasama ang Department of National Defense at Department of Interior and Local Government upang mas lalong masiguro sa mga lokal at dayuhang turista na ligtas ang Mindanao sa anumang uri ng karahasan.
“Very shortly and soon, we’ll be entering into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of National Defense as well as the Department of the Interior and Local Government para ang ating bed rock for tourism development in Mindanao is peace and security. So, we are partnering with them to be able to maintain the peace and security in areas in Mindanao and to further develop areas that have not necessarily been developed precisely because of peace and security issues,” ayon pa kay Frasco.
Dahil dito malaki ang pasasalamat ni Frasco sa serbisyo ng mga sundalo at kapulisan ng bansa para mapanatili ang kapayapaan sa Mindanao na susi para maging bukas ito hindi lang sa mga lokal na turista kundi maging sa mga dayuhan.
“Totoo iyan Pastor, and of course we are very thankful for all the service and sacrifice made by our uniformed personnel and of course also by the previous administration and the present administration to ensure that the peace and stability of Mindanao continues,” dagdag ni Frasco.
Dagdag pa ni Frasco na maging ang hilagang luzon ay dinedevelop rin ng ahensya para mas lalo pang makilala ang mga katangi-tanging lugar sa rehiyon.
“Of course, we’re also looking at developing the North of Luzon, which is why we’ve already done our North Luzon travel fair, which featured that area of the Philippines. Same effort pa rin, dinala natin ang mga taga-South at Central Philippines sa North. And the key effort towards that is really connectivity,” aniya.
