The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is forecasting robust growth for travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region, with tourism revenues to top US$4.6 trillion and visitor arrivals to reach close to 500 million by the end of 2010. The Philippine Department of Tourism has just launched Shopfeast Festival to capture some of these tourist.
This is a wonderful idea. I still remember our time in the Pacific region and our motivation in traveling to a lot of the areas we visited was due to “shopping”. During Hong Kong’s days of cheap imitation brand name we went to the British haven for watches and tailor made clothes, when Japan has the most advanced TVs, stereos of touch controls, while the US still had rotary dials we visited Tokyo, when Korean shoes and bags were only 5 dollars each we went to Seoul.
Now during our October 2007 visit to the Philippines after 12 years we were surprised that now it is the place to shop. We loaded up for MP4 players, cell phones, belts, bags, shoes, and traditional handicrafts, and even the bookseller "Negosyo" and "Soldiers Pultan".
Sec Durano has surely gone to first base. I hope he could make it to home base. Pangasinan’s problem is travel time since TIME is most valuable to a tourist.. When we travel on our two lane highways, our roads are heavily congested due to heavy traffic. Because there is no consideration for free flow of traffic when planning, just like the building of SM mall in Carmen adjacent to the highway, most tourists lose precious time they could not afford. It takes almost a day to reach Lingayen, Alaminos, Dagupan or Manaoag instead of the four hour trips I remember in the 80’s.
This problem is not easily solved with airports without comprehensive plans. The structure (airport) should be planned with the airlines, inputting target market analysis, and a fully integrated plan of the LGU and national private and public stakeholders. Let them brainstorm on everything that could bring in the visitors. Look at what we have to offer like skilled medical personnel with cheap labor rates. We could promote medical tourism here. Most of our FilAms talk about their Belo treatment here in the Philippines, while seniors talk of returning home to see if a medical facilities are available for their long term care. A program for business investment for retirees with tax privileges given by the government minus the corrupt laden red tape that keeps them away, will be good. Our local entrepreneurs’, in partnership with the returning retirees, can develop first world facilities where they could live. Ideas are endless if we only take everyone’s input without the baggage of ‘me first’.
Recall the single projects like McAdore, Alimango Restaurant, Tondaligan, San Fabian resorts, Bolinao parks. These were good ideas but could not stand alone.
