Road infrastructure projects to boost Central Visayas tourism growth

CEBU, Philippines - The improved infrastructure set-up in Central Visayas boosted by the ongoing Tourism Road Infrastructure program is seen to aid the region's bid to make tourism its major economic driver.

Department of Tourism (DOT-7) regional director Rowena Montecillo reported that the agency in convergence with Department of Public Works and Highways (DOWH) facilitated better access to and from priority tourism sites within the region.

DOT-7 endorsed the upgrading of 14 road projects in Cebu alone, and 28 others along strategic locations in the rest of the provinces in the region amounting to more than P1.8 billion.

According to Montecillo, the problem of infrastructure and road linkages going to major tourism destinations  are being improved and that this is expected to bring more tourists to different destination points of the four provinces in Central Visayas.

Meanwhile, Montecillo reiterated her commitment to work closely with the private sector players, saying "We at DOT 7 are enthused to implement a number of programs that are lined up for tourism stakeholders in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas this year."

These programs, she said involve about a hundred activities relative to:  tourism development planning, statistics, ecotourism, GAD, BUB, market development, and accreditation.

"With these engagements we are confident that once again we will surpass the 5.8 million tourist arrival target for 2016.  I am happy to note that, as of February this year, already, we have reached almost 15 percent  of this target," reported Montecillo.

DOT new secretary Wanda Corazon T.  Teo recently announced that among her priorities for 2016 are the improvement of roads, bridges, and gateways like airports and seaports; the development of other destinations and improvement of the present destinations; and the implementation of more promotions to be able to hit the arrivals target.

Under the National Tourism Development Plan, the agency’s target for foreign visitor arrivals is 10 million for 2016, and 56.1 million for domestic tourists.  (FREEMAN)