COTABATO CITY—As the first-ever Bangsamoro Business Congress continues, the tourism bureau of the Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT) is keen that promising business opportunities await potential tourism investors in the region.
On the second day of the 3-day congress, Bureau of Tourism Director Marites Maguindra presented a glimpse of tourism in the region vis-a-vis with the national tourism road map.
“We wanted to promote the region as an equally competitive tourism haven in the country like Boracay and Palawan, among others,” said Maguindra.
She stressed that BARMM has so many tourism destinations comparable to the traditional tourist destination in the country. In the data presented, the region has posted around 784,495 tourist arrival since 2019.
While there are challenges such as gateway access, infrastructure, health and safety (due to the pandemic), and economic impact, the region remained to be competitive. The tourism sector in the region also continuously faces challenges in equalizing promotion, tourist safety and security, and the lack of employment opportunities.
In today’s plenary session, one of the mechanisms seen to resolve identified tourism challenges is the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach. As defined on its official website, it is a contractual agreement between the Government and a private firm targeted towards financing, designing, implementing, and operating infrastructure facilities and services that were traditionally provided by the public sector.
Responding to a question on how would PPP become a viable option for developing tourism opportunities in the region, Maguindra emphasized that tourism investment is not something that can be easily afforded by the government hence private corporations can be engaged as partners.
“The tourism development is not just a million worth of money. It is a very big investment for our government could hardly afford,” said Maguindra hence PPP is the best option.
Some of the potential tourism developments shown in today’s event are the following: the development of Bulubudtua falls and Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao, Ramba park in Lanao del Sur, Mahatallang War Memorial in Basilan, Timpuok Lake in Sulu, and Sitangkai Urban Renewal and Seaweed Facility in Tawi-Tawi. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
