Editorial
Tourism that works
TOURISM as a livelihood activity can be the economic backbone of a community. However, a common misconception about it is there can be no tourism if one does not have a natural attraction to promote and develop. So woe is the town that has no natural destination for tourists to speak of. This is a downright falsity.
A tourist destination can be developed. A town can highlight a feature that is not commonly found elsewhere. For instance, a town that decides to plant all species of ornamental plants along its clean major and secondary roads can earn wows and be the subject of curiosity that is passed on by word of mouth.
On the other hand, a town blessed with a natural attraction, i.e., beach, forest, water falls, etc., will never have a chance of being patronized if infrastructure does not support it. The most important of which is access to the town or destination from where the traffic of tourists are expected. It also cannot hope to earn revenues for the community if the town has no clean and decent facilities for food and lodging. Having a natural attraction alone is never enough.
Lost in the mind of local planners is the need for local governments to understand that unless they create the policies that will consciously promote tourism, nothing will work, i.e., need for incentives for investors to develop facilities, allocation of budgets for creating and maintaining access to appointed destinations, incentives for communities to actively involve themselves in a common thrust, and above all, a political will to make tourism work for its communities.
Natural attractions alone do not make tourism. It is planning, marketing and infrastructure that make it happen. In this regard, the provincial tourism office is on the right track.
Dinner for peace
PRESIDENT Duterte described his unprecedented September 26 dinner at Malacanang as hosting the “entire communist hierarchy.” It was another first in the unorthodox Duterte Administration, but which, this time, was believed to have ruffled the nerves of several top military brass. But by dining with the rebels led by Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, both believed to be the chair and secretary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the President explained: “My main job…is really to seek peace.” He told the Malacanang Press Corps: “I have heard that there are rumblings [in the military], but I told them that…I am the President, I am your commander in chief, that’s the title for war. Unfortunately, I am not a wartime president.” He ended by saying, “This dinner means we can always talk and maybe…it will bring peace to the land.” We can only agree.
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