Puerto Princesa wants to emulate Suroy-Suroy Sugbo

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines  - The “secret” why Cebu led in tourism influx prompted the city government of Puerto Princesa, Palawan to invite Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and share it during their First Tourism Summit yesterday.

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn said he was the one pushing to invite Garcia to speak about “Tourism: Cebu Experience.”

“If you talk of massive tourism influx, it’s always Cebu and we will be following up all the good things that the governor has been doing,” Hagedorn told reporters.

In her speech, Garcia admitted being hesitant to accept the invitation.

“I fear that talking about tourism here in Puerto Princesa would be like preaching the Gospel to the Pope,” Garcia said.

But Hagedorn said the city is still in a young stage in tourism.

Garcia shared how she first took a look at tourism in Cebu noting that tourism in Cebu had been pretty well-established and it is getting fair share of tourist arrivals, both international and local.

But what is missing is the impact of tourism which was felt only in a very limited zone in metropolitan areas but hardly felt in the countryside.

This prompted Garcia to convene the Provincial Tourism and Heritage Council and bridge the idea of travel and the rich cultural heritage into one complete package, thus Suroy-Suroy Sugbo was conceived.

The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo is now on its fourth year bringing local and foreign tourists to the countryside, to where many have never been before, in a voyage of discovery.

The Cebu experience is a continuing one. It is a work in progress. There is a long journey ahead,” Garcia said.

Garcia also learned from the city about crafting a Local Tourism Code.

Puerto Princesa City has just approved its Code bringing all the stakeholders in to improve its tourism.

Garcia said Cebu Province might also copy its tourism code. (FREEMAN)

By Gregg M. Rubio/MIT (The Freeman)