Resorts potentials lead Sarangani tourism direction

GLAN, Sarangani (May 4, 2011) – “Because of your efforts, we were able to convert our natural resources into products,” Governor Migs Dominguez said at the Tourism-related Industry Congress (Tricon Glan 2011) with the municipal government and private sector Wednesday (May 4).

“We had envisioned and dreamt to be the best in Mindanao in tourism resorts where we can cater and cover every segment of society,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said the province branded Gumasa “and placed [it] our best foot forward for the world to discover the gem of Sarangani”.

Dominguez noted the mushrooming of resorts after promoting Gumasa as a resort destination.

“Our next step for the next 3 to 5 years is to become the convention resort destination of Mindanao,” Dominguez said, noting Gumasa white sands’ niche in resorts tourism.

Gumasa has at least 7 kilometers of white sand beaches where most of the resorts there are now tourist-ready.

Resorts lined up at Gumasa white sands are Coco Beach, White Haven, Rosal Beach, Davak Beach, Yoshikawa Beach, Brod Louie Resort and Spa, and Isla Jardin Del Mar.

Sarangani Bay Festival’s activities and beach sports held every last week of May made these resorts crowded with beach goers, tourists, adventurers, writers and photographers.

The 2011 Sarangani Bay Festival will be on May 19-21. For schedule of activities and contact persons for the three-day event, visit http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/bayfest.

Tricon Glan 2011 is set to tackle five tourism modules - Tourism Act 2009 and Tourism Situationer, Private Sector Participation, Sustainable and Community-Based Tourism, Transparent Accountable Governance 4 or Local Governance in Mindanao Project, and Local Legislative Agenda and Thrusts on Tourism.

“Finally, through this convention, we can have our tourism master plan,” former municipal tourism chairman and now Vice Mayor Dr. Vivien Yap said.

Dominguez said the convention will be a vehicle where the local government can get community initiatives “and to make sure these natural resources will still be the same 50 years later”.

“Let us make policies and standards that are executable. Let us graduate from being beach goers on the weekend into a convention resort destination of Mindanao,” Dominguez said. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)