By Floreño G. Solmirano
LEGAZPI CITY, June 16 (PNA) – The Bicol Regional Tourism Committee created by the Bicol Regional Development Council is all set to implement the Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon (AlMaSor) Area Development Plan (ADP) 2015-2020 which was approved by the RDC in its full-council meeting last June 6, Department of Tourism Bicol Regional Director Maria “Nini” Ong-Ravanilla told the PNA on Monday.
The BRTC, in coordination with the TDA Management Office — which is under the supervision of the DOT-Bicol, provides the policy direction and coordinates the implementation of the AlMaSor ADP.
“We are making sure that the priority programs/projects/activities identified, be these access/product development/institutional governance and human resource development, are met. We need the full support of the local government units (LGUs) and the convergence of national government agencies (NGAs) to make it happen,” Ravanilla stressed.
The DOT-Bicol — in collaboration with regional line agencies, LGUs and the private sector – is aggressively pursuing tourism development programs to contribute 1.2 million foreign tourist arrivals to the 2016 national target of 10 million.
The AlMaSor ADP 2015-2020 provides the overall framework in addressing the primary tourism concerns of connectivity and access, tourism product development and governance.
It aims to develop new and emerging destinations that will increase domestic and foreign tourist arrivals in the region by providing quality tourism a products and services.
“The development of AlMaSor TDA will contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the Bicol Regional Development Plan, one of which is to increase gross value-added from tourism sector with adequate and quality tourism promotion services and infrastructure facilities,” RDC Chair and Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda said..
The Bicol RDP 2011-2016 identifies tourism as one of the most promising and resilient sectors that will spur economic development in the region, Salceda added.
The AlMaSor TDA is one of the top five TDAs in the central Philippines with the capacity to support strategic and niche products that are attracting tourists.
The AlMaSor ADP was formulated in accordance with RA 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009, the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2011-2016, and the updated Bicol Regional Development Plan 2011-2016.
The NTDP was formulated envisioning the country to become the “must experience and more fun” destination in Asia in accordance with RA 9593, Salceda explained.
It aims to develop a highly competitive, environmentally and socially responsible tourism, providing widely distributed income and employment opportunities.
Under the NTDP, the Philippines was subdivided into three greater regions: Northern, Central and Southern Philippines.
The greater regions are subdivided into 21 thematic cluster destinations, which are further subdivided into 77 TDAs.
Salceda said the Bicol Tourism Cluster was subdivided into two TDAs: the Triple C (Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes) and the AlMaSor.
The idea is to focus on the comparative advantage and desirability of specific destinations and develop them as “power brands” that will create global awareness, he clarified.
The AlMaSor TDA is the first of the 77 TDAs with an area development plan, which aims to put Bicol in the global tourism market.
Specifically, the ADP aims to: (1) Set the vision and future direction of tourism development in Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon; (2) Guide the various stakeholders on the key areas for tourism development, related tourism facilities and services, and support infrastructure; and (3) Specify the roles and responsibilities of key players, institutional arrangements and resource requirements.
It aims to address the following needs: (1) Address high poverty incidence, especially in Masbate; (2) More investments in tourism-related infrastructure; (3) Enhance education and skills of the workforce; (4) Improve access and connectivity; (5) Improve facilities and services; (6) Extensive tourism promotion and marketing; and (7) Create healthy business environment and transparent and proactive tourism rules and regulations. (PNA)