BRIGHTER prospects await the economy of Western Visayas this new year, according to government officials.

Prospects for the tourism industry in the region would be bright in 2010, said tourism regional director Edwin Trompeta.

Trompeta said tourism in the region would still be led by tourist arrivals on Boracay Island but other destinations would also benefit from the continued increase in both local and domestic tourists.

Tourist arrivals in Boracay already grew by 2.8 percent as of November, excluding the expected boost in arrivals during December. The number of tourists increased from 670,000 to around 700,000 in Boracay and around two million for Western Visayas, Trompeta said.

He said more tourists were expected in the next one and a half years after the visit of more than 300 tour operators from Russia, France, Switzerland and other European countries.

Tourist drawers

The region?s festivals, which are traditional tourist drawers like the Ati-Atihan in Aklan and Dinagyang in Iloilo, were also expected to bring in more guests.

?We do not have a problem with visitors. What limits us is the shortage of hotel rooms,? Trompeta said.

The investments of business processing outsourcing (BPO) firms will also boost the economy of Western Visayas as the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod have been included in the next wave of top cities for BPO and information technology investments, according to Dominic Abad, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry.

He said more investors have expressed interest in putting BPO sites in the region, which have also prompted local businessmen to invest in buildings and office space.

Faith, resilience

On the other hand, Ilonggos remained resilient and drew on their faith and unwavering hope amid a year struck by the global economic crisis and among the worst tragedies to hit the country.

Hundreds of Ilonggo overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were among those repatriated early last year after the expected impact of the economic crisis hit their foreign employers.

With the loss of income and debts still to pay, the workers had to undergo training for alternative livelihood including putting up their own backyard or household businesses.

Amid the tragedies and problems, there were also small but meaningful victories and acts of hope and inspiration that brightens prospects.

Filipino World War II veterans have finally been given recognition and compensation for their sacrifices during the war, which they have struggled for in decades.

Terror victim

United Nations volunteer Jossie Garbo-Esto, a native of New Washington town in Aklan, was hailed a hero after she died along with four others in a suicide attack by Taliban bomber in the Afghan capital of Kabul in October.

A public school teacher, Esto left her family in 2004 to work in the UN as an election coordinator in Liberia, East Timor and Nepal before she was assigned with seven other eight Filipino UN volunteers in Afghanistan.

The Archdiocese of Jaro also opened the diocesan process for the canonization of Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion whom Ilonggos hope would be the country?s first woman and Ilonggo saint.

The business sector remains optimistic for opportunities in the coming year even if it struggles with reduced exports, higher production costs and sluggish demand.

Maria Lea Victoria Lara, executive director of the Iloilo Business Club, said there has been increasing interest by investors in Iloilo and Western Visayas especially with the putting up of new power plants.

More call centers are expected to come in with Transcom, one of Europe?s largest BPO firms, going on full operations in Iloilo this year. The firm is expected to hire from 1,000 to 2,000 employees.

Lara said they expect the May 10 elections to pump prime the economy especially businesses engaged in printing, food, travel and paper products.

Tourism, one of the strongest points of the Visayas, is also expected to sustain its robust growth and bring in revenues and generate jobs.