‘Locals to sustain tourism’

Emphasizing local involvement would ensure sustainability of tourism projects in municipalities, cities and province, tourism officials said yesterday.

“They have a sense of ownership so they take care of what they have. Who can speak better about a place than its own people?” said Regional Director Rowena Montecillo of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7).

During the 50th Charter Day celebration of Danao town in Bohol yesterday afternoon, Montecillo said providing work for the locals will empower them.

The Danao Adventure Park, which employs more than 100 locals and offers features like bungee jumping and zip line, established the fourth-class municipality as an eco-adventure tourism site.

Development of Danao Eco Park started last 2007 after the town received a P15-million funding from the World Bank, Danao Mayor Louis Gonzales said.

He said they began developing the mountainous area of barangay Magtangtang as an eco-tourism park with zip line, kayaking, river tour, canon swing, root climbing, camping and bouldering.

Last 2010, they generated revenues of P30 million, which funds additional services to its residents.

The initial attractions of the eco-park include the 460-meter zip line called “Sui-slide,” the cable car and the canon swing called “The Plunge,” which consists of jumping from a 70- meter cliff to a lush forest among a wide river.

With the funds, Gonzales said they provide full medical coverage to indigents, scholarship programs, feeding programs and provides micro financing to small businesses.

He said they are also encouraging investors in their town to provide skills training,  professionalizing and development of skills of the locals.

Montecillo said they wanted to cluster the tourist destination in Bohol to provide more options for tourists.

Bohol is also known for its natural wonders like the Chocolate Hills, the pristine beaches of Panglao, the Loboc River and the famous Philippine tarsier.

“Bohol is a market for eco-cultural destination,” Montecillo said.  She said the DOT is also organizing more tourism fora for Central Visayas “so every province can learn from each other.”