[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 14, 2008
CEBU CITY — The Department of Tourism (DoT) recently introduced birdwatching as a new attraction to complement the current tourist destinations in the country.
Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said there is a huge market for birdwatching around the world and the country can tap on that potential with the country’s more than 100 species of birds that are indigenous only in the Philippines.
"We want to get a market that has not been taken by our neighboring countries yet, and birdwatching will surely add to our current attractions," said Durano during the opening of the 3rd Trabaho Sa Turismo fair at the SM City Cebu Thursday.
No other country in Asia has introduced birdwatching as one of the major attractions and the Philippines will be the first in the region to have such an organized activity.
Birdwatching is the observation and study of birds with the naked eye or through a visual enhancement device like binoculars or cameras. It often involves a significant auditory component as well, as many bird species are more readily detected and identified by ear than by eye.
Most birdwatchers pursue this activity for recreational or social reasons, unlike ornithologists, who are engaged in the formal scientific study of birds and Durano said most birdwatchers are very affluent people who have the luxury of time and money to travel around the world to watch unique species of birds.
