Investors invited to join Kalinga tourism industry

By Geraldine G. Dumallig

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Officials are inviting investors to engage in the tourism industry of the province to develop it as an eco-tourism destination,

Kalinga provincial Tourism officer Lorraine Ngao-i said the province is looking at a tourism industry that promotes beauty of nature, heritage, culture and its people.

“This is the reason why its development should be planned with the involvement of all sectors especially those currently investing and planning to invest in the industry.”

Investors,  she said,  could chose from the various available eco-tourism packages in the province especially in Tabuk City which is only an hour away from Tuguegarao Airport.

“Though we are promoting the province as a tourism destination, this should not be a one-shot approach for we need to plan well the programs and take every necessary step to ensure that what we are promoting will be protected and preserved,” she said.

Ngao-i said Kalinga should not experience mistakes made by other tourist destinations in the country where the industry that they hoped would bring economic prosperity became a problem as it resulted to various violations of the law, including emergence of moral, social and environmental issues.

“We want Kalinga tourism to be selective with the people and visitors respecting what they come to see,” she said.

Currently, the province  is visited by several tourists. At least 14,593 arrivals from January to August this year  was  reported by accommodation service providers in the city with 2,853 foreigners of said number.

To enhance the industry, the province she said is encouraging the participation of key stakeholders from the private sectors to support the program with the active participation in the various tourism activities.

While waiting for investors to take part in developing their tourism packages, the province is giving focus to three vital steps to improve the industry.