Bicol seeks more funding for tourism promotions

MANILA, Philippines — The Bicol region is seeking more promotions funding from the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) as it targets to attract more tourists from overseas markets, a regional official said.

In a chance interview, Department of Tourism (DOT) director for Region 5 Benjamin Santiago said they are asking the TPB for more funding for promotions in overseas markets.

“We lack in promotions, but even so, the arrival numbers are big,” Santiago said in Filipino.

He added that in 2017, the Bicol region registered tourist arrivals of about six million. This is expected to grow by 10 to 15 percent this year.

Santiago said most of the region’s tourism promotions budget has been used for its many festivals within the country.

“We’re now trying to market it outside of the region,” Santiago said.

“We are now looking at putting our attractions in inflight magazines,” he said.

Asked how much budget the region is seeking from the TPB, he said it would be just a small amount, without disclosing exact figures. He said they would accept whatever amount the TPB can give.

Apart from attracting foreign tourists to visit the Bicol region, Santiago said they also want to attract Filipinos abroad to come and invest in the Bicol region’s tourism sector, particularly for its emerging tourist destinations.

“And we are also trying to market to Bicolanos outside of the region, meaning those abroad to invest in the Bicol region,” Santiago said.

“Instead of foreigners investing, especially the Chinese coming over, it would be better if Filipinos invest,” he said.

The regional director disclosed that foreign investors are already taking notice of the region, with one Chinese investor acquiring an unidentified island in Masbate.

He said there are still a lot of emerging destinations in the region that people have yet to see.

Moreover, Santiago said the region plans to partner with TESDA to provide foreign language training to its tour guides in a bid to cater to foreign tourists visiting the area.