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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism is coordinating with travel media and tour operators in informing potential tourists to Mindanao that Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City are not part of the “main tourist circuit” in the region, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said Wednesday.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of emergency in these areas Tuesday, a day after over 40 people were massacred in Maguindanao in what was apparently an election-related incident.
"We really appreciated that the state of emergency was specified in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City. Itong mga lugar na ito ay di [These areas are not] part ng [of the] main tourist circuit in Mindanao which includes Camiguin, Siargao, Davao and Cagayan de Oro," said Durano in an interview with INQUIRER.net on the side of the Philippine Tourism Congress at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.
"Ang trabaho namin ngayon [Our work now] is to inform and coordinate with the travel media and tour operators that these areas are not part of our tourism circuit and our tourism circuits are stable, safe, and enjoyable," added Durano.
Durano described the massacre incident in Mindanao as an "isolated incident" although he recognized that this was not the first time that there was chaos in Mindanao.
"We make sure that there is a normal traffic of tourists in our tourist circuits in Mindanao. Hindi naman talaga kasama sa tourism circuit ang Central Mindanao [Central Mindanao is not really part of the tourism circuit]," said Durano.
In her speech before the tourism congress, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo praised the growth of the Philippines tourism industry, attributing this to the partnership of the private sector and the government.
"The biggest number of tourists comes from our neighboring Asian countries with Koreans, topping the list for several years. Also, there is a 500 percent growth of tourists since 2001 from China," said Arroyo.
"This tourism congress is not only the first compliance in the new tourism act but also to celebrate P555 billion of infrastructure investments in tourism," said Arroyo.
The Tourism Congress, a private sector consultative body, is tasked to assist the DoT in development, implementation, and coordination of tourism policies.
This year, RA 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009 was enacted to boost the tourism industry in the country, which can generate investment, foreign exchange, and employment.
