Department of Tourism urges Local Government Units to develop local tourist sites

by Gay B. Gaspay

Tacloban City, Leyte  — The Department of Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab urges local government units in Eastern Visayas to develop local potential tourist sites in their respective areas in order to invite more tourist to visit their places.

The statement was made during an interview with the Undersecretary at the Leyte Park Hotel, where he recently attended a meeting of the DOT Regional Directors.

According to USEC Palabyab, the local government units specially the local chief executive should be assertuve and be aggressive enough in developing potential tourist sites in their areas for it will not only uplift the economic condition of the region but it will provide job opportunities to the local constituentsas well.

The region according to him is rich in historical and cultural tourism aside from the beautiful sceneries the region possess. However, there is a need for these to be packaged properly in order to attract more tourist to come and visit the place. Historical Tourism must be developed, Palabyab further said, since the province of Leyte was the seat of the government during World War II, and it is the venue of the famous MacArthur Leyte Gulf landing, which is known internationally

Of course with the help of the local chief executives the potential sites should be developed first, through improvement of infrastructures, the building of resorts, hotels and lodging houses where the visitors will stay, the establishments of restaurants and eateries where they can eat and buy water to drink, he further said.

Most importantly, the attitude and the treatment of the constituents towards the visiting tourists should be courteous and hospitable. Van, jeepney and tricycle drivers were advised to “please treat our tourist visitors with honesty” by giving them reasonable price for their fare. All these, according to Undersecretary Palayab, will encourage region 8 visitors to come back.

The Department of Tourism, he added, will be just around to extend a helping hand to local government units who are interested in developing their local potential sites. DOT can help them in packaging and marketing the developed area.

The local government units, he said, should be aware that investors outside this region are coming already and slowly trying to buy properties for development. LGUs should do their part, locally the people owning this sites should benefit from it rather than outside investors.

He views region 8 as the next booming tourist destination of the country ones it is developed.

USEC Palabyab visited the Region together with other Department of Tourism Regional Directors to attend this year’s 2nd Regional Directors Meeting outside Metro Manila. They likewise visited the different tourist spots of the region. (PIA