SOUL OF THE SOUTH 2. FOREWORD The Second Decade of the 21st century opened with welcoming prospects for the growth of tourism in the Southern Bicol Region, with increasing tourist arrivals in the provinces of Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon, particulary from 2010 to 2012. Amidst such optimism, the three provinces were joined as a single Tourism Development Area (TDA), following the National Tourism Development Plan mandated in the Tourism Act of 2009. The plan proposes to divide the Philippines into 20 tourism clusters, covering 78 TDAs. The Bicol Region comprises one such cluster, with two TDAs created in 2012: Camarines Norte-Camarines Sur Catanduanes, called TRIPLE C; and Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon, called ALMASOR. Clustering is a relatively recent innovation in the tourism industry that has been gaining foothold in the global arena, thanks to pronounced advantages such as transportation and infrastructure linkages, synergistic cooperation in product positioning and promotions among various industry stakeholders, and horizontal as well as vertical integration of tourism products on varying scales. In addition, the tourism alliance of ALMASOR provides an opportunity for the three provinces to look into their shared history and culture. It was surprisingly easy for the three provinces to come together and join forces because they were part of one political unit for a long period during the Spanish colonial era. More recently, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) launched the its National Heritage Month through its annual Taoid project tours of heritage structures and sites in the provinces of Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon. The main celebration was held in Albay to focus on the National Heritage recognized Daraga Church and the iconic Mayon Volcano. During my many earlier international engagements in World Tourism Organization (WTO) negotiations and in the recent UNFCCC and GCF, I took inspiration for ALMASOR largely from the Yucatan Peninsula tourism alliance of Cancun and Chicheniza in Mexico. And now, ALMASOR can be credited for the marked dynamism that characterizes the tourism of Southern Bicol for the last two years. Albay has enjoyed staggering growth rates in tourism arrivals, with 49.4% in 2012 and 66.9% in 2013. From only 8,765 foreign tourists in 2006 rising to 87,000 in 2010, it leapt to 383,000 in 2013 within the period of aggressive Almasor promotions domestically and globally. With the expected completion of a new international airport in Daraga, Albay by May 2016, the role of Albay as gateway to the rest of Almasor will be realized. Moreover, the accessibility extends to Northern Samar and even to Caramoan. Sorsogon has also seen increases in comparable levels, at 30.9% in 2012 and 46.2% in 2013. Masbate has posted 12.6% increase in 2013, an encouraging boost given the meager increments and even negative growth rate it had in the previous years. Before the creation of ALMASOR, the combined tourist arrivals for the three provinces in 2011 was at 655,771 or a growth rate of 16.7% from its previous year. This has dramatically increased with ALMASOR to 33.4% in 2012 and 51.8% in 2013. Covering a total of 8,668.4 square kilometers, ALMASOR land area is literally at the heart of the Philippines: the Guinduyanan Point at Burias Island being the countrys midpoint. This reflects the pivotal role of ALMASOR as a link and gateway to the various destinations in the archipelago. Interconnectivity with various TDAs is made possible by buses, fast crafts and roll-in roll-off sea vessels, as well as by the four airports within the area. This is augmented by the secondary airport at Masbate, feeder airports at Bacon and Bulan, and a trunkline airport in Legazpi, which has inaugurated chartered flights from Xianmen in January 30 and February 6, 2014. The Bicol International Airport in Daraga, when completed, is expected to further boost the linkage of ALMASOR to other destinations within and outside the country. ALMASOR provides a palette of experiences with a variety of natural sites, heritage structures, adventure sports, festivals, cuisines and local products that give a whole new definition of fun. This book, the second of its kind, widens the horizon for the traveler in the destination dubbed as the Soul of the South. JOEY SARTE SALCEDA Governor, Province of Albay Convenor, Almasor Tourism Alliance
Posted on: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 12:35:15 +0000