PIA Press Release
2008/03/14
by Robert E. Roperos
Butuan City (March 14) -- "Caraga Region has strong potential to have bright future in tourism industry", said Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Joseph Ace Durano in a roundtable discussion with the members of the local press.
With the issue of the mining industry that is taking place in the region at present, Sec. Durano is still optimistic that with the tourist destinations that are already discovered and still to be discovered in the region, tourism industry is still one of the factors to be considered in uplifting the economic status of Caraga.
Sec. Durano added that Caraga, by nature, has a lot to offer in the tourism industry. "We know where is the location of the mining industry in the region, and yet, there are still number of tourist destinations that our region can be proud of. This is the reason why DOT, in collaboration with the local government units, are developing these tourist sites to gain additional income", he said.
When asked if there are plans for the national government to put up or develop first-class resorts and hotels within the area of the tourist sites in the region, Sec. Durano said that in Caraga, adventure tourism is being promoted.
With this kind of tourism, foreign and local tourists will not look for five-star hotels and resorts or concrete roads. "They love to stay in a nipa hut, as much as they love adventure, as long as there is a toilet and a bathroom for them to use", he added.
Moreover, Sec. Durano informed the local media that adventure tourism is set to be launched next month in Germany where Caraga region is included as one of the places to be featured in the package. (PIA-13)
