DOT urges LGUs to focus on entrepreneurial tourism
Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Edwin Trompeta has called upon the local government units to redirect its tourism programs toward entrepreneurial tourism.
He said entrepreneurial tourism is beyond tourist arrivals and tourist stay, it is about livelihood, jobs and economic development of a place.
Trompeta's explanation was in relation to the recent Western Visayas Tourism Assembly in Bacolod City which has a theme: "Entrepreneurial Tourism: Beyond Tourist Arrivals."
Trompeta added, entrepreneurial tourism also means service and infrastructures that should not only be made available to the visitors but also to the tourists. "Many people don't realize how important is the participation of the community to engage in tourism service and in order to generate income to the people," he said.
The theme is also in response to the tourism department's program offered to all stakeholders dubbed as Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-Tourism (GREET) program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
GREET program will provide the people the opportunity not only to promote the eco-tourism programs but provide livelihood to the people. The program will primarily benefit the stakeholders and not just the tour operators. The program was conceptualized to provide employment opportunities, livelihood creation, balanced ecology and environmental protection, promotion and marketing of ecotourism sites as potential tourist destinations and to develop tourism.
GREET has set aside P50,000 to P100,000 worth of grants to support the proposal of an individual or organization on how to promote an eco-tourism site in their locality. The proponent may consider a proposal to develop tourism products such as operation of new services and activities in their area; tourism establishments that include accommodation facilities, food and beverage and the likes and tourism related services, namely handicraft training, rescue and medical services or published materials.
The potential investment will be evaluated according to the following criteria: originality, uniqueness, creativity; viability of implementation and projections; economic impact and job creation; promotion of natural and cultural preservation; and growth potentials. The program at the same time will address the problems on too much exploitation and promotion of tourism sites in the country without control. In the GREET program, development in the islands, resorts and other tourism sites will be controlled.