Guimaras repackaged as tourist destination

Iloilo City (5 November) — Mountain bike races, kayaking and tours to mango plantations.

These and other land-based leisure activities will be the new image of Guimaras Island in line with a promotional campaign to reverse the negative impact of a large oil spill on the island’s tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will embark on a short-term rehabilitation and marketing program starting next month for the affected tourist destinations on the island.

DOT regional director Edwin Trompeta said an “island paradise race” and an international mountain bike festival would be held on the island to highlight that “there’s more to beaches in Guimaras.”

He pointed out that only 20 percent of the beach tourism was affected by the oil spill but the other destinations have suffered a slack of visitors because of the impression that the whole of the island was contaminated by the oil sludge.

Trompeta said that they hope to generate a positive image of Guimaras with the series of events lined up.

The events include a strategic marketing workshop for resort operators and other stakeholders in the tourism industry and a travel trade tour for operators and travel agents. A familiarization tour for reporters and travel writers will also be conducted to highlight other sites including mountain resorts and heritage sites.

Agri-tourism tours, especially to mango plantations, will also be promoted. Guimaras has been dubbed the “Mango Capital of the Philippines” because of the quality of its mangoes renowned for its sweetness and size. The island produced 11,182.72 metric tons of mangoes in 2003 and has at least 8,000 hectares of mango orchards.

A boost in the tourism industry will also provide alternative jobs to displaced residents. They could be trained.

“It will take time but because the island is multi-faceted, its tourism industry will surely bounce back,” Trompeta said. (PIA)