Indon travel agents eye tour packages for Mindanao

Sun Star, Philippines

INDONESIAN travel agents have expressed interest to sell tour packages covering tourist spots in Manado, Indonesia and some parts of Mindanao, a General Santos City Hall official said.

Ernesto V. Quisay, chief of staff of the city mayor's office, said that at least 21 Indonesian travel agents arrived in General Santos recently to scout the tourism potentials in the locality.

"They were accompanied by four television crew of Indonesia's Pacific TV," he said.

Aside from the city, James Gopang, director of Hello Tour and Travel based in Manado, said the prospective tour package circuit would include Davao City and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato province.

"(It was) a good opportunity for us to know your area. GenSan is a very good place for tourism." Gopang was quoted in a statement released by the City Government.

Travel agents from Gorontalo and Palau are also interested in coming up with their own tour packages, the statement added.

The Indonesian travel agents visited the fish port complex and Philbest Canning Corp. following official welcome by the local government. They were entertained by the city's dance troupe.

This city is the undisputed "Tuna Capital of the Philippines" and has been promoting eco-tourism or outdoor adventure through the K'laja Karsts, a vast expanse that feature steep ravines for rock climbing and underwater caves.

On the other hand, Davao City boasts of large shopping malls, Philippine Eagle Foundation, smf orchid farms and fruits like the exotic durian. For nature destination, there is the Eden Nature Park and Resort.

Meanwhile, Lake Sebu, the "summer capital of South Cotabato", offers its succulent tilapia grown in cages at its scenic lakes and several waterfalls.

The Department of Tourism has said that Central Mindanao region, to which this city and South Cotabato belong, could become a major tourism drawer in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga).

That is if peace will finally be at hand in Southern Philippines, according to Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab, also the agency's national coordinator for BIMP-Eaga affairs.

He said that Central Mindanao has the strengths that could make it a vital tourism destination in the sub-regional growth area.