TAC LOBAN CITY – Tourism Regional Director Norma Morantte has allayed the fear of some officials in the region over the exclusion of Eastern Visayas from areas being vigorously promoted by the Department of Tourism.

According to Morantte, while the region was not among the “eight anchor destinations” of the department, everything is not yet lost for the region.

She sad Eastern Visay as will be included in the next batch of regions that will be promoted by the Department of tourist destinations that target tourists coming from Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan.

Moratte said that among the sites in the region that her office will be showcasing as part of this promotional campaign are the San Juanico Bridge, the Macarthur Memorial Shrine and the Rock Formation in Beri, Northern Samar.

“We are still part of the master plan of the Department of tourism. This anchors of tourism will just serve as the entry points of the tourists as Eastern Visayas has the connectivity of this program,” Morantte, referring to the promotional campaign of the department, told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

She said that what these places could offer to the tourists, the have them in abundance.

Thus, Morantte added, this non-inclusion of the region in the list must not be misconstrued that the Department of is playing favorite to particular regions.

‘There were other regions that were not also included in this promotional campaign of the Department,” she said.

The anchor destinations are Manila, Bagiuo, Vigan, Davao, Palawan, Boracay, Cebu and Bohol.

The non-inclusion of Eastern Visayas in the list has raised opposition form the region’s officials, notably Leyte Rep. Remedios ‘Matin Petilla and sectoral Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel of An Waray party-list group.

Both Petilla and Noel said that they would question this non-exclusion of the region before Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano.

But according to Morantte, these eight areas identified by the Department of Tourism have all the necessary infrastructure facilities that Eastern Visayas lacks.

“Admittedly, Eastern Visayas is not that ready yet to invite tourists. We lack the needed infrastructures. Our airport is problematic so is the power supply. How can we package the region as a tourist destination if we are not ready yet?” Morantte said.

She said that for the region to be promoted as tourist destinations alongside with the “eight anchors of destinations,” it must put in place all the needed infrastructure facilities so that tourists can be encouraged to visit.

“If the product is not yet ready, there is no reason for promote it. If we go into promotional campaign, everything must be complete,” Morantte added. Thus, she said, the region was not included in the list.

The Department of Tourism together with giant mobile company since Sunday started its publicity campaign promoting the eight areas in the country.

But the tourism regional chief told Express that everything is not lost yet as Eastern Visayas is among the regions included in the next promotional campaign of the department.