We should be tourists first in our home country

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BY JOHNNY NOVERA
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Thursday, October 12, 2017
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WITH Martial Law declared in Mindanao, many people are apprehensive that it can affect business and tourism in our country. Certainly, it created a negative impression especially on foreigners, and in fact some countries have issued travel advisories for their citizens to avoid Mindanao when they visit the Philippines.

Then there is the rampant “extrajudicial killings” happening on our streets today attributed to the police and unknown elements riding in tandem on motorcycles, especially in Metro Manila.

But tourism need not be for foreigners only. A tourist is defined as anyone who takes a tour or trip. During the recent gathering of tourism officers in Iloilo, we are glad that we brought them not only to tour the city but also to see some resort farms in the province and impressed them with our tourism potentials. How many of us in Iloilo have seen those places that have impressed our visitors?

We think that Ilonggos must be tourists first in our own city, province or region before we even think of visiting other places.

It does not mean that tourism will always involve travelling outside the country or abroad. In Japan they encourage domestic travel instead of foreign. Japanese employers give bonuses to their employees not only in cash but also in the form of tours or outings to local resorts and vacation sites especially those with historical and heritage value.

Can the Iloilo Business Club whose membership comes from the more affluent group of businessmen in our community adopt the Japanese idea of granting bonuses to their employees or workers?

Next to the Iloilo Business Club, we can ask the members of the Iloilo Bankers Club in promoting the granting of employee bonuses in similar manner, aside from cash, to be followed by other business or professional groups.

The program can be done by inviting the cooperation and involvement of our local hotel and resort owners while employees are on tour.  It can add to the incentive.

When we worked in a hotel years back, we discovered that many of our people even those from the city have not experienced the luxury and comfort of staying in a resort or hotel. The situation can still be the same today.

We request our local hotels and resorts to launch a promotion for their establishments by making their rates affordable for a weekend stay along the idea of making Ilonggos, and all Filipinos for that matter, as tourists first in their home country before they ever think of going to foreign places. (For comments  or reactions, please  e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
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