RTCC initiates value chain approach in tourism
TACLOBAN CITY -The Eastern Visayas Regional Tourism Coordination Committee (RTCC) has introduced the “value chain approach” in a bid to close gaps that block the advancement of the region’s tourism industry.
RTCC chair and Presidential Assistant for Region 8 Cynthia R. Nierras said that the strategy would provide “tourism products as combination of services” by different stakeholders in the tourism sector located in clustered areas.
The strategy includes advising tourist on product and contract, transport to site, provision of food and accommodations, experiencing the event, and transport from site.
“This needs coordination of services by travel agents, bus companies, hotel and restaurant operators, site operators, and cultural groups,” Nierras told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
Under the said approach, members of the tourism committee listed down constraints, sectors that will address the concern and available local opportunities that could help solve the issues.
Nierras said that among the concerns noted by the RTCC, which is composed of various government agencies and the private sector, are lack of provision of information venues, lack of research efforts on tourism, lack of reliable information database on tourism statistics, untapped international market, very low tourism consciousness.
Disorganized airport services, insufficient land transport facilities, front liners are not visitor-friendly, dishonest and opportunistic porters, substandard accommodation facilities, lack of interpreters, no site development plans, no restrooms in tourism sites, poor waste management, very low awareness of economic benefits of tourism, absence of feedback mechanism, and lack of souvenir items.
‘These are just some of the constraints that our visitors have been experiencing from the time of their arrival up to departure. The attitude of the public is also big factor in the implementation of value chain approach,” she added.
The RTCC has identified actions that will be taken and specific group or agencies that are capable of addressing specific gaps.
Nierras explained that they urged local officials in the six tourism development areas to meet stakeholders to point out constraints and map out ways to resolve it.
Currently, she said that only the Samar-Leyte Interface (Tacloban City-Basey, Samar area) has completed the plan using the value chain approach. Southern Leyte ( Sogod Bay area) has requested assistance from RTCC to incorporate the strategy in their development plans.
The Department of Tourism has identified six tourism development areas, which are the Samar-Leyte Interface, Ormoc area in Western Leyte, North Leyte-Biliran area, South-Eastern Samar Island , Sogod Bay area in Southern Leyte, and Catarman-Allen area in Northern Samar .
Attractions in and around Tacloban City include the Santo Niño Shrine; Leyte Landing Memorial Park in Palo, Leyte; Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Samar; and San Juanico Bridge.
“This area is now ready for promotion,” Nierras said.
The Biliran area has off-shore islands with white sand beaches, mountains, waterfalls, hot springs and rice lands. South-eastern Samar Island area, on the other hand, includes Calicoan Island and Matarinao Bays.
The Sogod Bay area offers opportunities for viewing whale sharks across Sogod and Liloan Bays . In addition, there are several reefs, walls and caves in Sogod Bay and around Limasawa that have become popular dive sites.
Biri and Las Rosas Islands which have good snorkeling and dives sites were spotted as priority for tourism development. Northern Samar has an advantage with its port with regular boat services to Luzon
“Ormoc City has developed as a resort area catering to leisure and business visitors from Cebu . In addition to its beaches, there is also the Lake Danao National Park on the hills just east of Ormoc City and the Leyte Golf and Country Club,” DOT records said. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
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