Organizing eco-tourism in Calicoan

I have written twice on this topic recently. I mentioned the significance of Calicoan, Guiuan, Eastern Samar in our region’s drive to bring in more tourists and then mentioned putting economic value on tourism promotion.
           
In today’s column, I’d like to point out that we could have the most beautiful beach scenery in the world in Calicoan or the best potential among different sites in the Philippines for bringing in tourists and their foreign exchange (or money) – yet we can’t get to these objectives because of problems in organizing such efforts.
           
As I talked to some officials who personally know the situation, it seems that it is the “gap” between the local government unit (presumably supported by a majority of the voters of Guiuan) and the biggest private developers of Calicoan that could slow down and even put a halt to the promotion of tourism.
           
When it comes to getting work done, certainly not much will be accomplished if the developers and the government officials don’t move in the same direction.
           
A relevant suggestion here is for the national government through the Department of Tourism and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources to come in and “mediate”.
           
The Regional Eco-Tourism Council can enter the picture (it will be chaired by DOT Regional Director Karena Rosa Tiopes starting July 3, 2007 pursuant to Executive Order No. 111), initiate a dialogue and then get both sides to arrive at a so-called “win-win” solution.
           
The solution will have to promote the interests of the community (e.g., not to have a negative effect on employment and income) and that of the investors (they need to earn from the money they invest).

In view of what is happening in Calicoan, Guiuian we can see the importance of an organized and coordinated effort in promoting eco-tourism. The viability to work together well will be Calicoan’s biggest problem in entering the world eco-tourism map.