DOT eyes P425M in tourism revenues for Guimaras

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

The tourism department in Western Visayas aims to bring in more than 100,000 tourists in the island province of Guimaras in a span of one year to regain the tourism receipts that were lost to the Iloilo Strait tragedy.

Specifically, the Department of Tourism (DOT)-6 will try to bring in P425.817 million in tourism receipts for every 350 domestic and foreign tourists who will visit Guimaras every day from October 31, 2019 to October 30, 2020.

“If we get to bring in 350 domestic and foreign tourists to Guimaras every day and we multiply it by 30 days and 12 months that would be a total of 126,000 tourists for one year. P3,379.50 tourist average daily expenditure multiplied by 126,000 tourists total to P425,817,000 tourist receipts for the province,” DOT-6 Regional Director Atty. Helen Catalbas said in an interview on Nov 1, 2019.

In order to achieve the tourism targets, DOT-6 launched #LoveGuimaras Assistance Package (OLAP) on Friday at the Parola Wharf in City Proper, Iloilo City with the goal of promoting Guimaras as a safe and convenient tourist destination.

OLAP, which is an initiative of DOT-6 in partnership with the provincial and local government of Guimaras and private tourism stakeholders, rolled out a set of activities for one year to be implemented in order to promote the province.

According to Catalbas, they are also planning to adorn the canvass or tarpaulins covers of Guimaras motor bancas with colorful paintings to serve as tourist attractions and project a very happy travel atmosphere in Guimaras.

“We will still consult with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), motor boat owners, and other stakeholders regarding the proposal but what we really want is for our motor bancas to be colorful and attractive with all the tourist attractions painted in its canvass or its wooden body,” she added.

Last week, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 33 in Iloilo City restrained the MARINA 6 and PCG from implementing the protocol on tarpaulins/canvass on motor bancas plying Iloilo to Guimaras and vice versa.

In a 13-page decision dated November 4, 2019, RTC Branch 33 Presiding Judge Ma. Theresa Gaspar enjoined and restrained MARINA and PCG from implementing the conditions in the August 13, 2019 Memorandum that the “tarpaulins/canvass shall either be rolled up or removed.”

RTC Branch 33 also issued a preliminary injunction against MARINA and PCG and denied their motion for inhibition.

Before this, MARINA also issued a memorandum allowing the use of tarpaulins and canvass in motor bancas subject to a set of specifications.

Pump boats are allowed to install canvass or tarpaulin with the following specifications: the height of tarpaulin or canvass should be 1.8 meter; the length should be 50 percent of the length of the motor boat; the width must be 80 percent of the width of the boat; and the angle of deflection must not be more than 15 degrees from the horizontal line.

The strict protocols and negative impact of the Iloilo Strait tragedy on August 3 crippled the tourism industry of the province with a sudden drop of 74% in the tourism arrivals from August 4-31, 2019.

Data from the Provincial Tourism Office of Guimaras showed that the tourism receipts of the province dragged from P42.9 million to P9.8 million in the same period.

Compared to the 43, 709 arrivals in 2018, the province only recorded 11, 432.