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Siargao

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- The Senate, led by the Committee on Economic Affairs, on Tuesday held an inquiry on the impact of poor tourism infrastructure on the country&#x27;s economy.</p><p>Citing personal experiences in his recent trip to Siargao, Senator Miguel Zubiri said the country is evidently lagging in tourism compared to our Southeast Asian neighbors.</p><p>Zubiri said he personally experienced intermittent power outages in Siargao, which is supposedly one of the top tourist destinations in the country.</p><p>He said Siargao only has 40 megawatts of power when it needs 50 megawatts of power on a monthly basis.</p><p>&quot;There is a 10 megawatt deficit causing power interruptions in the island,&quot; Zubiri said.</p><p>&quot;I think that is what we need to address as a national government. Kasi nakakahiya (sa mga foreign tourists),&quot; he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/7/29/siargao-tops-lonely-planet-s-list-of-best-places-to-visit-in-southeast-asia-1417">READ: Siargao tops Lonely Planet&#x27;s list of best places to visit in Southeast Asia</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/5/8/siargao-is-top-ph-destination-for-slow-travel-booking-platform-1221">READ: Siargao is top PH destination for slow travel: booking platform</a></div><p>Zubiri also noted that Siargao&#x27;s airport is so small that foreign travelers had to sit on the floor.</p><p>He compared it to other destinations in Southeast Asia like Phuket in Thailand and Siem Reap in Cambodia, which have much better facilities.</p><p>Zubiri said the inquiry aims to give the Senate a better understanding of the tourism situation so they could respond in more effective ways.</p><p>He noted additional problems such as poor internet connectivity and insufficient water supply should also be addressed.</p><p>&quot;Ang hina ng internet kailangan ko pa pumunta sa beach (para makapag-internet!). Sa ibang bansa 24/7 ang connectivity,&quot; Zubiri said.</p><p>&quot;We want to see the data so the government can inform the private sector and the potential investors,&quot; he said.</p><p>Zubiri also asked the Department of Tourism about the number of tourist arrivals in the country post-pandemic.</p><p>Tourism Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano said the country is projected to receive around 6 million tourists this year, noting that as of August 19, 3.8 million tourists have already arrived.</p><p>Zubiri said despite this seemingly large number, it is just 10% of the tourists in Thailand.</p><p>The senator also noted that the 8.6% contribution of tourism in the Philippine economy is too small, as other countries have double digit figures.</p><p>Representatives of LGUs attended the hearing to give a briefing on the tourism situation in their localities.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re here to help you, hopefully we can give you a new airport so we can have more tourists,&quot; Zubiri said.</p><p>&quot;Let&#x27;s not wait for 20 years. We hope we can expedite, not wait two decades to get all these facilities,&quot; he ended.</p><p>Meanwhile, Senator Bato Dela Rosa noted that he is seeing more resorts popping up in the BaSulTa (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi) region, which he says is indicative of the growth of tourism in the area.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Senate, led by the Committee on Economic Affairs, on Tuesday held an inquiry on the impact of poor tourism infrastructure on the country's economy.</p>

The Senate, led by the Committee on Economic Affairs, on Tuesday held an inquiry on the impact of poor tourism infrastructure on the country's economy.

'Nakakahiya': Senate wants improvements in PH's tourism infrastructure

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'Nakakahiya': Senate wants improvements in PH's tourism infrastructure

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 27, 2024 03:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Senate

Committee on Economic Affairs

tourism

Department of Tourism

Siargao

Miguel Zubiri

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