DOT7: Island hopping master plan underway

CEBU, Philippines — Once the first Island Hopping master plan for Central Visayas will be given a budget nod, the region expects to triple its inter-island tourists volume.

Department of Tourism (DOT-7) regional director Shalimar Tamano said his office is crafting plans on how to inter-connect the islands and provinces within the region, to provide tourists with seamless travel experience, exploring the hundreds of high potential tourist magnet destinations in Central Visayas.

A master plan for near to “flawless” inter-island transport access is being crafted, Tamano hopes budget approval will be released soon.

This is part of the entire Central Visayas Tourism master plan endorsed by National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Regional Development Council (RDC).

Tamano said Central Visayas contributes one-third of the total tourism in the country based on reported statistics.

The Central Visayas tourism master plan is the first master plan in the region and country.

The DOT started working on the master plan three months ago with the National Economic and Development Authority, and it aims to complete the plan in one year, according to Tamano.

Tamano explained they plan to strengthen the maritime infrastructure, especially now that land transport is congested. He said they will push for water buses and water taxis to shorten the travel time, especially in Cebu.

In an earlier interview with Herald Fries, Sweden’s Ambassador to the Philippines, he said that the “not-good” road networks going to different tourism sites is keeping the country from attracting Swedish tourists.

Fries admitted that Philippine tourism has great future, but it has to double time in fixing its road infrastructure, as well as other transportation facilities in order to provide hassle-free land and sea transfers.