Koronadal City Tourism Industry is Back on Track
“Tourism is open, we are coming back. In terms of private-owned tourism products, we are more or less 80% ready”, the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (CTCAO) Head Elric Batilaran gladly announced the revival of tourism industry in the city of Koronadal.
In an interview through the program “Tingog sang Pagsanyog”, Batilaran shared that the tourism industry in the city has gradually returned to vibrancy after two years of collapse which caused a major blow to the economy due to the Covid19 pandemic.
Undeniably, the tourism industry is among the sectors that have been greatly affected by the pandemic.
“We didn’t stop. Until now, tuloy-tuloy yan. One of the hard-hit industries during the pandemic, ito yong tourism. Kaya ngayon bumabawi na tayo. Whether we like it or not sabi ng Tourism Industry na talagang mag-o-open na tayo. By hook or by crook, mag-o-open na talaga ang tourism kasi mamamatay ang ekonomiya natin pag hindi mag-o-open”, Batilaran stated.
Getting back on track
Since tourism plays a major role in terms of economic development, Batilaran believes that they have to find ways to continue what they have already started.
Currently, the CTCAO centers its attention more on the vaccination program, particularly on the solution policies in terms of hygiene and health protocols implemented by the city government. The focus should not only be on the vaccine but rather on the vaccination program which is very vital in bringing the tourism industry back on track.
“What we are banking on right now actually on vaccination program na dapat tuloy-tuloy and at the same time yong mga solution policies natin in terms of hygiene/health protocols, gaano tayo ka strict diyan, it’s not actually the vaccine. We may have the best vaccines and a lot of vaccines sa isa ka lugar but if we do not have good vaccination program hindi natin maabot ang herd immunity”, Batilaran said.
While the city government has been doing a lot already how to combat the Covid-19 virus; the CTCAO has also its way to manage its programs and activities to help restart the tourism industry in our city. However, it is quite a challenge for them to rebuild the sector and to reconsider the way of doing business while ensuring the compliance with safety and health standards.
According to Batilaran, one of the most challenging parts is the transition from the traditional to the digital way of highlighting the city’s tourism and the culture and arts industry. Thus, investing more on new technologies is very important because it will really help shape the recovery process.
“Ito ang challenge sa atin. We need to invest more on new technologies because this is really a giant help. How do we shape the next activities in the process of recovery? Dapat may mga graphic designs, may 3D concepts na tayo para virtually mahatak natin ang mga tourists. Through this, ma-ignite that interest and excitement. This pandemic has taught us another way of doing promotions, that’s the positive side of it”, Batilaran stressed.
Cultural Mapping for potential tourist destination
On the other hand, the CTCAO is continuously conducting the Cultural Mapping around the different barangays in the City of Koronadal.
According to Batilaran, cultural mapping is very important because it is an effective tool to identify the strength, capability and potential of a place in terms of its products and skills which could be offered to tourists. Currently, they hold trainings in various barangays. They teach them proper ways to invite tourists to visit their area and to patronize their products.
Further, through cultural mapping, the City Tourism Office was able to identify what is popular and what is “in” in the tourism industry. According to Batilaran, cultural tourism is really on its high peak towards opening the tourism industry. They have already identified some barangays in Koronadal which have the potential to be the next farm tourism, agri-tourism, adventure tourism and food tourism destinations in the city.
Also, part of our cultural mapping of the CTCAO is to identify the would-be food icons in Koronadal. Based on the conduct of food inventory, there are a number of barangays which they want to help and develop. Through this, the dream of City of Koronadal having its very own “One Town One Product” (OTOP) will eventually be realized.
The “One Town One Product” is a promotional program of the government which aims to promote goods and products of Filipino towns, cities, and regions, and provides funding for small businesses.
“Cultural Mapping really is a tool. It’s actually not the answer to some problems but it could be an effective tool to identify the strength of a barangay. If not food, it could be handicraft, particularly the Blaan handicrafts. There are stories behind the design. Cultural tourism is really on its high peak towards opening the tourism industry. Part of our cultural mapping is to identify our Food Icons in Koronadal particularly in Barangay Caloocan, Cacub, Saravia and Morales. We conducted food inventory and hopefully we can develop and upscale that would reflect kung ano talaga ang Koronadal”, Batilaran remarked.
Future of Tourism Industry in Koronadal
Tourism industry in the city may be experiencing difficulties at this time; however, through combined efforts and hard work, the tourism sector will be able to grow once again and will achieve better success after this pandemic.
When asked about his foresight on the city’s tourism industry being the City Tourism Officer, Batilaran has this to say:
“With uncertain future we are facing right now, we are seeing some lights at the end of the tunnel. We are looking forward to that scenario where we will go back not in the total on-site of conducting the activities but it could be on a blended format. We will use the new technologies especially in the internet and social media to widespread our activities. The culture, arts and the tourism should really be the communication bridge to echo what we are doing here at the same time what best we can offer to our would-be tourists and entrepreneurs who are willing to spend their capitalization and money to put up the investment in the City of Koronadal.”