RIVER CRUISE | This booth of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a top tourist drawer in the capital city of Palawan, is one of the community-based sustainable tourism destinations that Puerto Princesa is showcasing as it opens its tourism month celebration with a mini trade fair at Robinsons Mall Palawan on Friday. (Photo by GERALD TICKE)
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines 鈥� The hospitality sector here are focusing on community-based sustainable tourism (CBST) to drive the city鈥檚 economic recovery.
A three-day trade fair showcasing community-based tourist destinations launched at the Robinsons Mall Palawan on Friday intends to show that the city鈥檚 tourism industry is on its way back to recovery, after being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) which hit in December 2021, said City Tourism Officer Demetrio Alvior Jr.
These sites are 鈥渟urvivors in the worst chapter of our lives,鈥� Alvior said, adding: 鈥淒ue to global pandemic and annual calamity, these experiences made you strong and much stronger than before, that鈥檚 why we believe that this is now the right time to look forward and establish momentum for a better tomorrow.鈥�
Councilor Patrick Alex Hagedorn, chair of the city council鈥檚 committee on tourism, said they would need to focus on the recovery of CBST.
鈥淚n Puerto Princesa alone, we lost P5.5 million annually from potential tourist receipts and 9,000 plus tourism jobs,鈥� Alvior added.
Positive signs
Alvior also stressed that while the opening of the city鈥檚 tourism month was focused on CBST, the celebration that was put on hold in the last two years due to health and travel restrictions is intended for the recovery of the entire tourism sector to its prepandemic status.
He noted that the steady rise of tourist arrivals and the increasing number of flights and accommodation bookings in the city were signs they were on their way to recovery.
Alvior said the city has already recorded 120,000 tourist arrivals since the start of this year, or an average of 15,000 monthly visitors.
Vice Mayor Ma. Nancy Socrates said the tourism month鈥檚 theme of 鈥淩ethinking Tourism鈥� is timely and shows hope for the recovery of the tourism sector.
鈥淟et鈥檚 rethink tourism, go back to old ways in terms of promotion, marketing and other strategies to attract tourists and customers because some of the things we are doing now might no longer be effective,鈥� Socrates said.
RELATED STORIES
DOT chief meets with South Korean officials to promote, bolster PH tourism
DOT upbeat on tourism growth with eased COVID restrictions
DOT: 92% of workers in PH tourism sector fully vaccinated vs COVID-19