|
The proliferation of aliens in our midst is
attributed to government’s packages like retirement havens that
take advantage of the low cost of living in the country, relatively
cheap standard of living (for non-Filipinos, at least), and the ease
of acquiring prime real estate (among other means, by hitching
yourself to a Filipino).
Ongoing in Cebu City under
government and United Nations auspices till Saturday is the 6th UN
International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local
Authorities. Meanwhile, 25 concerned development groups met to
conduct a two-day consultative review, entitled Tourism in the
Philippines: A View from the Underside, as a parallel activity. They
want to present an alternative review of the travel and tourism
industry.
The review was organized by two
international nongovern–ment organizations: Chiang Mai,
Thailand-based Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism and Peace for Life;
and local groups National Council of Churches of the Philippines,
social research group Ibon Foundation and church network Contak
Philippines.
The government targets at least
$44 billion in revenues and four million jobs by 2015 from the
tourism sector, as contained in the official Medium-Term Development
Plan 2004 to 2010 and the proposed Tourism Act of 2008.
To spur more tourist arrivals,
the government is creating a product portfolio that promotes higher
value tourism products and services for all reasons under the sun
(i.e., wellness, education, conventions and corporate events,
diving, honeymoons and shopping).
Still, stakeholders in the
industry attribute the low contribution of tourism to the economy on
the lack of competitiveness of Philippine tourism. Hence, more funds
will be spent for a sector also facing a global crisis, according to
the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
Total capital investments for
2008 is forecast to reach $3 billion, with government expected to
spend $1 billion. In real terms, however, critics fear that this
will only translate to 1.3 percent of direct industry GDP, and 2
percent of total Philippine GDP, with zero or minimal employment
growth, compared to the more productive sectors of agriculture and
manufacturing.
The capital infusion is directed
at providing new tourist facilities, like hotels, motels, spas and
resorts, restaurants, supermarkets and convenience facilities, among
others.
In the parallel review, advocates
raised the specter of sex tourism as an inevitable effect of a
massive campaign to attract tourists. Salinlahi Children’s
Advocacy Coalition said that in the tourist enclaves of Pagsanjan in
Laguna, Boracay Island in Aklan and Puerto Galera in Mindoro
Occidental, tourism has promoted the commercial sex industry founded
on selling the services of women and children. Sex tours are even
packaged, and sex trafficking is increasing. Some tourists go to the
country for sex-oriented rest and recreation. Even Internet cafes
are used as instruments to attract this kind of tourists.
The Council for Health
Development warned that the medical tourism program, relaunched by
the Department of Health (DOH) in January 2006, might push up the
price of health services, already not affordable to many Filipinos,
because citizens will compete with foreigners awash with dollars.
To spur tourism, peasants, urban
poor and indigenous communities have been displaced to make way for
tourism ventures. Good Shepherd Sr. Francis Anover said that in
Camiguin Island, some 16 families were allegedly displaced for a
tourism-oriented venture.
Tourism has attracted farmers,
now hired as cleaners, janitors or masseurs in resorts. Indigenous
peoples have been turned into entertainers. Even so-called protected
areas are being opened up to tourists, as diving sites and natural
parks. In Morong, Bataan, some 238 hectares of shoreline were turned
into commercial beach resorts, said the Center for Women’s
Resources which did research on the area. Some 200 houses and
properties were destroyed in the Crossing community as residents
fought off a demolition team. In the ensuing melee, two residents
died and some pregnant women suffered miscarriages due to massive
stress.
Tourism ventures have given rise
to social conflicts. Absentee landlords and local landowners have
become aggressive in asserting claims for lands adjacent to or near
coastlines, causing land disputes.
Advocates raised concerns about
the proposed Tourism Act of 2008, including the P500 million
allotted for the implementation of the program that could be used
for other purposes like funding schools, clinics, hospitals and
livelihood programs.
With guaranteed funding, this
proposed law will only strengthen the seamy side of tourism:
commodification of poor sectors, environmental degradation and
deprivation of the poor who cannot partake of needed social services
as funds go to building tourism infrastructure instead.
ngamolo@manilatimes.net
|
