VISAYAS must undergo a rehabilitation programme before promotions and marketing for the area as a tourist destination can start again, said Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) president, John Paul Cabalza.
Super typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, has already rendered millions homeless and is feared to have claimed more than 10,000 lives.
According to PTAA’s check on their partners, counterparts and tourist destinations in the affected areas, Boracay is now accessible as the airports in Kalibo and Caticlan have reopened.
In Palawan, Coron has been wrecked but Puerto Princesa remains intact. Bantayan and Camotes in Cebu were battered by the typhoon, while towns in Leyte and Samar have been levelled.
Given the massive destruction wrought, Cabalza pointed out: “The affected destinations would have a hard time, at this point, to promote their areas. It’s already a given (as) it’s difficult to go there.”
He said ensuring the safety of travellers and kickstarting a rehabilitation programme for infrastructure are therefore paramount. “If the airport is not usable, if road networks are not passable, if electricity and communication lines are not working…it will be difficult to promote (the area to tourists).”
On how PTAA will be assisting in relief efforts, Cabalza said: “Once we are given the ‘go’ signal, the best way for us in PTAA really is to assist in terms of coordinating with tourism offices in their respective provinces in the needed sales, marketing and endorsement efforts.”
Wanda Teo, president of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, said: “We can still encourage tourists to come to our country as there are other tourist spots that were not devastated by the typhoon.”
