Tourism and terrorism

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Managing Editor ANTONIETA B. LOPEZ Business Editor ODETTE MONTELIBANO Desk Editor MARY ANN BARCELONA Advertising Coordinator RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete

ANDRES R. LEONARDIA Managing Director

Tourism has remained a main source of income for the Philippine economy and with the opening of the Association of Southeast Asian Tourism Forum in Davao City tomorrow, we see efforts to systematize and strengthen the promotion of ASEAN as an exciting travel destination.

The forum, also being participated by tourism ministers of European Council member nations, Japan, South Korean and China, specifically aims to discuss pressing issues confronting regional tourism, particularly amid the threat of terrorism. The Bali blasts that claimed lives of foreign tourists have been grim reminders how the once serene tourism and travel industry has been gripped by fear.

Despite these problems, especially for the Philippines, tourism spells hope for support industries - from food, to transportation, cottage industries and others - thus the forum finds greater meaning and substance in the country. This even becomes more apropos in the Philippines, where many facets of the industry need polishing and restructuring to ensure that visitors are safe, get their money's worth when they come to the country and serve as effective agents for the country when they return home and tell their folks of what they have experienced here.

Sadly, many visitors are either victimized by snatchers, looters and other unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of these innocent tourists. A number even end up as obituary statistics. Likewise, many facilities and services all over the country are below par - toilets stink, transportation schedule and personal are often erratic, hence, unreliable, information services even by some tourism offices are lacking - that many visitors end up being enterprising by themselves for them to enjoy seeing both metropolitan centers and countrysides in the Philippines.

We trust that the forum will further enhance the tourism industry in Southeast Asia , which is being packaged by the ASEAN as a tourism market with great premium value, and properly and urgently address its concerns. Particularly the threat of terrorism as we also express optimism that local tour operators, agencies and pertinent sectors will respond to the challenges for optimum safety-conscious services and facilities.*