Naitas cites Donsol whale sharks as ‘hit’ for tourism
Danny O. Calleja, Business Mirror 3 Jun 09;
SORSOGON CITY—The 1,200-strong National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) has acknowledged Sorsogon as a “major hit among foreign tourists” because of Donsol town’s whale sharks and other eco-tourism destinations in the province.
A Naitas statement on Wednesday said, “Sorsogon is host to one of the highest concentration of whale sharks in the world. These creatures have been frequenting the waters off Donsol, Sorsogon, for generations and in 1998, the Philippine Department of Tourism declared this area an official sanctuary for the whale shark, thus protecting this fascinating species.”
Although butanding—how Bicolanos call the whale shark—is enormous in size and power, reaching more than 15 meters in length, it is remarkably gentle and docile and generally safe to swim with, the statement said.
According to Sorsogon provincial board member Butch Ravanilla, the Naitas statement was issued at a meeting in Cebu City where the group mapped out plans for the tourism industry amid the current economic crunch.
Ravanilla, who chairs the committee on tourism of the provincial legislative board, said Naitas has identified Sorsogon as among the areas that could attract tourists. The group is optimistic the global financial crisis could be considered as a challenge toward creative ways of marketing in tourism.
With more than 1,200 members around the country, Naitas is the largest group of travel agencies working together to come up with attractive packages. Despite the economic slowdown, Ravanilla said, “We are impressed that Sorsogon has been included in its tourism road map.”
The Donsol whale sharks have consistently attracted local and foreign tourist since the municipality was officially declared the Whale Shark Capital of the World in 1998.
Apart from Donsol, Ravanilla said that other eco-tourism destinations in the province cited by Naitas were the mangrove forest in Prieto Diaz town, Lake Bulusan at the foot of Bulusan Volcano, natural hot springs in Irosin, and the beaches of Gubat and Bacon.
