BY HELEN J. CATALBAS
This column is about conversations, suggestions, updates and what-have-you on the subject of tourism and other matters in the Western Visayas region, Philippines and world. It is intended to be a market place of ideas leading to positive actions and reactions that will, hopefully, build communities.
SOME so-called tourist destinations promote themselves without knowing that by doing so they create long-term harm more than short term good. This results when destination promoters do not have a clear concept of the difference between what is a tourist destination on the one hand and what a tourist product is on the other.
The rampant and even careless use of social media is a double-bladed sword that strengthen destinations as they weaken them at the same time depending on the state of tourism these destinations are in.
Take a case of an eager beaver who posted picture-perfect images of waterfalls in a far away tourist destination so-called. In the midst of scorching summer. This kind of promotion entices a lot of locals, some domestic tourists and even a few foreign tourists who travel the length to partake of a one-of-a-kind refreshing experience.
But the “attraction” is physically inaccessible because the road to paradise is so bad, there are no available public transportation and nothing for hire. In short, the poor tourist reaches the promised heaven after hours of a hard hike without even a descent rest area, sari-sari store or drinking station along the way.
What tops the worst trip altogether is when those magnetized by the attraction promotion arrive at the destination where the waterfalls have become water false because the wellsprings have dried up and all hopes for a pleasant natural sojourn have evaporated with body salt.
Would-be tourists should make sure they are spending time, money and energy on a tourist product before embarking on a trip to avoid a nightmare of what was planned to be a summer holiday.
Promoters of tourist attractions should promote only tourist products if they want their destinations to stand the tests of competition in the field.
Have a safe summer, everyone!/PN
