SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Department of Tourism in Region 3 (DOT-3) have joined hands to improve Subic’s standing as a major tourist destination by training tourism stakeholders here in the collection and reporting of tourism statistics.
Portia Zabala, SBMA tourism manager, said the two agencies have started training tourism-related businesses, particularly hoteliers in this freeport, in making periodical reports of tourist arrivals in their respective establishments.
“Cebu always remained one of the top destinations in the country in terms of arrivals, and we want Subic to achieve the same,” Zabala said. “And we can only do that if we report to the DOT the complete statistics on tourist and visitor arrivals here,” she added.
According to DOT-3 statistics, Central Luzon placed 12th in regional rankings in 2008, and 11th in 2009 and 2010 in terms of visitor arrivals.
“SM did not establish here then because we do not have the volume of tourists they were looking for,” Zabala said, admitting that in those times Subic only transmitted “same-day visitors” count due to lack of inputs on overnight tourists from hoteliers.
“What we want to know—and let other people know—is how many tourists really stay in Subic for more than just a day,” Zabala also said.
Meanwhile, Avon Timbol of DOT-3 who facilitated the training here, cited Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009, particularly Section 35, as the basis for coordination between national and local governments “to develop a national strategy for tourism development.”
According to RA 9593, DOT-3 may provide assistance in terms of financial, technical, training and the like to aid the SBMA “for the preparation, implementation and monitoring of their tourism development plans, gathering of statistical data, and enforcement of tourism laws and regulations.”
During the training, participants from the Subic Bay area were taught how to generate the statistics needed in the periodical report.
“We organized this training to encourage more hoteliers to submit statistical reports on tourist arrivals in their respective accommodation establishments, not only once or twice, but on a regular basis,” Timbol said.
“We need these statistics to improve your business, to improve people’s lives, to expand knowledge and carry out good governance. Because the more tourists you attract, the more value you put on Subic,” Timbol added.
Zabala said the training program “came very timely as we celebrate the National Tourism Week and the World Tourism Day on September 27.”
The DOT’s statistics training was held at the Grand Seasons Hotel here, and received participation from front desk, accounting and marketing personnel from Subic accommodation establishments like the Subic Park Hotel, Seorabeol Hotel, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Treetop Adventure, Subic Holiday Villas, Camayan Beach Resort, Subic Homes, Bayfront Hotel, and Boardwalk Inn, to name a few.
The National Tourism Week celebration in this free port is spearheaded by the SBMA, and held in cooperation with Treetop Adventure, Segara Villas and Suites, the Lighthouse Marina Resort, and Travelers Hotel & Event Center.
