Around 100 representatives from government and the private sector attended the one-day Tourism Investment Forum Thursday, Oct. 27, to discuss concerns, issues and other matters that would help boost the tourism industry of Negros Oriental.
The Department of Tourism is collaborating with the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental and Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry in promoting local economic development in the province through tourism investments, according to Edward Du, NOCCI president.
One of the objectives of the Tourism Investment Forum is to encourage investors/developers to register their tourism development projects to the Board of Investments, the Tourism Infrastructure &Enterprise Zone Authority, and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority for the grants of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, according to Du.
Likewise, it aims to facilitate the identification and promotion of potential properties and opportunities for tourism investments and to help local property owners and developers find potential investor partners to develop their properties into tourism-related projects, Du added.
Furthermore, to create a more comprehensive information sharing and discussion, the DOT has partnered with the Trade & Investment Development Corp. of the Philippines/Philippine Export-Import Credit Agency (PhilExIm) to provide potential support on financing of tourism development projects, the NOCCI President disclosed.
“We are preparing ourselves so that any time an investor will come in, we are ready”, Du said.
Investors are usually discouraged when they encounter problems such as the lack of available property, disinterested local government units and red tape, among others, he pointed out.
Du stressed that the private sector and the LGUs must be ready and cooperate so that the province will become “investor-ready”.
The NOCCI president highlighted the need for all LGUs in Negros Oriental to have their respective Local Investment and Incentives Code, which is necessary to aid prospective investors looking to bring their businesses to the province.
Currently, only five of the 25 LGUs in Negros Oriental have crafted, approved or implemented their LIICs and these are Dumaguete City, Bais City, Tanjay City, and the towns of Dauin and Manjuyod.
On top of that, only Bayawan City, Bais City and the municipality of Amlan have Public-Private Partnership programs.
Du said that for LGUs without LIICs, they would have to refer to the province’s Local Investment and Incentives Code.
As he challenged the other LGUs to come up with their own investment codes, Du disclosed the NOCCI is preparing to train and help them in drafting their own LIICs, hopefully in the next 12 months.
“We don’t want to get caught flat-footed when investors come and we are not ready”, Du said.
What usually happens is that investors transfer to Cebu, which has everything like an international airport, an international seaport and other infrastructure that would cater to the needs of these investors, Du added.
According to Du, there are Chinese investors that are looking at Negros Oriental as a potential tourism destination.
Among those who attended the Tourism Investment Forum were some mayors, local businessmen and investors, property developers/owners, business/investment associations, provincial, city and municipal tourism officers, investment officers and local investment promotion centers/associations.
Some of the presentations during the whole-day forum included “Guidelines for the Designation and Supervision of Tourism Enterprise Zones”, “Retirement Opportunities in the Philippines”, “Financing Opportunities for Tourism-Related Developments”, and “Overview of Tourism Investment in the Philippines”. (PNA)
