Mayon Volcano in Albay continues to show high levels of unrest. Because of the danger it poses, an estimated 20,000 people have been ordered moved out of the danger zones and most of them are now living in evacuations centers.
Despite this literally earth-shaking development, tourism in the area has actually picked up. Aside from the usual activities like visiting the Cagsawa ruins and 4x4 ATV excursions, the sight of lava flowing down the slopes of the volcano has become a crowd drawer, especially when the night falls.
Right now we can say that this particular attraction cannot be found anywhere else in the country, making it extremely unique and even a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some.
This activity has the encouragement of local executives who, along with officials of the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol Region, assure that the region is still safe for tourists. They have even released a list of viewing decks in safe areas where people can watch the lava flows.
However, some sectors have decried what they call “disaster tourism” and say that the government should not promote tourism in the area while people are still miserable in evacuation centers.
We don’t necessarily see disaster tourism --to use their term-- as something wrong. It’s called making the most out of a bad situation. We all know how the saying goes: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. For this scenario we can modify that to: If your volcano starts spewing lava, encourage tourists to come and see.
It’s not exactly fair to ask people to abandon some forms of livelihood just because others are suffering. It’s also not the case where those who are profiting are doing so directly at the expense of others. They also didn’t cause their suffering, so there is nothing inherently wrong in what they are doing.
However, we do have to point out that encouraging tourism at this time must not come at the cost of ignoring the plight of those in evacuation centers.
To make it clear: The local government must make sure that the needs of those in evacuation centers are not ignored even as they entice tourists to come and enjoy the sights and experiences.