Tourists to be shown how PH products are made

IN RESPONSE to the government’s call for more investments in tourism at the countryside, an exporter is setting up an immersion-type tour package targeted to be offered within the year.

Venus Genson, Philippine Export Industry Foundation Inc. president, said she would be putting in place the plan for the tour featuring five of her fashion accessories and furniture furnishings suppliers.

Genson owns Venus Art in Nature which manufactures furnishings for export and has been in the business for over 30 years.

She said she had been working with over 100 local suppliers from Cordova and Liloan town in northern Cebu.

“This is in response to the call of the government to put in more investments in the countryside for tourism because it helps create jobs at the bottom of the pyramid,” said Genson.

Genson said she had tapped a Dutch expert to help her with the feasibility study of the project.

Initially, Genson said they would choose five of her longest suppliers to be her partners where the tourists could stay and learn about the processes they do for the products that they make in her export firm.

p100 MILLION PROJECT

“For this we are looking at a project cost of P100 million and hopefully it will be ready for implementation within the year,” said Genson.

She said she also planned to ask the support of the Department of Trade and Industry to help develop the package for the products of her suppliers so that they could also sell these to the tourists.

Genson also manufactures fashion accessories, home decors which she said could also be featured during the tours.

“Aside from the community tours, they (tourists) will also be given a tour at my plant and showroom. That way we can showcase the Cebuano brand which is world class,” said Genson.

Department of Tourism regional director Rowena Montecillo said more tourism products in the countrysides are very welcome.

“This is the thrust now as part of the ‘inclusive growth’ goal of the government and we support every project that will go in line with that thrust,” said Montecillo.