In Cagayan de Oro City, aside from our corporate and local convention market, we have the Korean arrivals which rank as our top source of foreign business followed by the Filipino Balikbayan groups that includes Filipino expatriates working or living in some western hemisphere countries outside of the United States.
According to the Asia Travel Magazine, China travel figures continue to remain the strongest growing market in the past 12 years. The Peoples Republic of China (PROC) is sending 33% of their outbound tourist to South Korea and growing by 13% annually.
The Philippines is some 6 hours away from Korea and within the travel sphere of Mainland China.
The Chinese economy which is expected to overtake the United States of America in 2020 with a per capita income of USD 3000 ending 2011 compared to the United States USD 3,340.
China has a stronger growth pattern from 2008 up to 2010 which is forecasted to surpass the US due to a higher Chinese Population of 1.3 Billion, a factor in contributing to the GDP. Gross Domestic Product is the total market of goods and services produced by a country in a specific period of time.
It is divided among the countries personal consumption, investments, net exports and government spending. China achieved a higher growth pattern through a fixed value of their currency against the US Dollar and continuously undervalued their product cheaper thus “increasing” its export to the US and to the west.
Using this statistical support, building our capacity and knowledge on how the Chinese tourists behave outside of their country including the insights of their spending habits, tourism stakeholders could launched tour programs attractive to the young and old Chinese travelers.
Strong cultural ties and family trees of rich Filipino Chinese traced their roots to the Chinese mainland. Relatives from abroad come and visit Chinese communities in the Philippines.
Travel has brought the exodus of tourist filling up the hotel rooms in Manila during the Chinese New Year. Bus loads of Hongkong tourist crowd the Chinese Temple in Cebu during February.
The gambling Casinos in Laoag, Ilocos Norte and Sta Ana, Cagayan Valley are filled to the rafters with tourist from Chinese Macau.
In the far flung Misibis Resort in the Bicol Peninsula, Chinese tourist from Fujian Province frolic in the sun. Young vacationers and honeymooners are transported by All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) for a tour at the foot of Mayon Volcano or to the Cagsawa Ruins near Legaspi City.
Tourist destinations in the Philippines have peculiar interest that could be adequately handled by the professional guides trained by the Department of Tourism.
Tour guiding can be expanded by training Taxi Drivers and transport operators on foreign languages and the value of our cultures as well as honesty in dealing with foreigners.
Packages can be developed making use of the transportation and hotel accommodations as the revenue center. The land tours, food and sports activities make up the rest of the tourist receipts.
Some resort destinations have added Spa and health care as well as extreme sports among the attractions. In Cagayan de Oro City, tourism promotions must come under one roof with joint national and local tourism initiatives above the private sector.
Setting the tones and sound guidelines through an active Promote Cdo type body with regular budgetary allocations and policy recommending authority devoid of political colors or affiliations.
Modern cities have changed their paradigms on tourism from the expensive hosting of irrelevant beauty pageant into a market oriented business linkage through overseas travels and attendance to trade fairs.
Travel and trade gatherings leads to business opportunities. Travelers’ first come as a tourist the return next visit could be a prospective investment trip. The city of Cagayan de Oro cannot stand alone as a tourist destination; it has to partner with the province of Misamis Oriental that seat on a vast field of natural attractions and a potential location for eco-tourism and industrial development.
Much more, the province of Misamis Oriental cannot attract international attention without a city as the center of business with modern communications. The lifestyles and diverse cultural background of a city adds to the interest of travel.
Aside from the “Its more fun in the Philippines “DOT slogan, government has to build a level of preparedness to benefit from the growth of China. We cannot be a continuous buyer of Chinese made products but maybe a potential trading partner throught the opening of joint ventures.
Misamis Oriental has brilliant lawmakers now seating in Congress, they have the influence over their pears with a commanding more than 1.2 Million voters to include the City of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog City, they can make or unmake any Presidential aspirant.
Our Congressmen can propose and work for the passage of a law opening more tourism zones, they can secure more infrastructure allocations to expand the roads and improve traffic management.
They can corner more power plant investors and market our industrial estate to business locators. Nothing is impossible if they can work together. They can even built a skyway from the Laguindingan Airport up to the western gateway of the City.
When these are realized, they can join hands and before the end of their terms, welcome “Nihao” our first batch of Chinese tourists. Tourism is a magnet for more investments. The private sector will built the facilities and many will follow with the banking sector providing the needed capital. Government has to lead in a class above their own.
Ped T. Quiamjot is one of the brilliant columnists of a local newspaper in Cagayan de Oro City and currently the General Manager of Pryce Plaza Hotel Cagayan de Oro. His column talks on various issues and concerns affecting the business sector and tourism industry.
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