Tourism in Davao del Norte particularly in Samal Island has not been affected by the September 21 kidnapping of three foreigners and one Filipina at a resort in Samal.
“We have not received reports of previous bookings which were cancelled after the kidnapping. “ Noel Daquioag, provincial tourism officer of Davao del Norte said during his guesting at the Club 888 media forum in Marco Polo Davao yesterday (Sept. 30).
Daquioag said that they view the incident as an isolated case as people have always known to be Samal as a peaceful place.
Waterborne armed men abducted Canadians John Ridsdel, Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and a Filipina only known as Tess during a night-time raid at Holiday Oceanview, a residential resort development well-known for its marina where foreign-owned yachts are berthed.
“The tourists just like us also believe that the incident is an isolated case.” Daquioag said.
The Island Garden City of Samal, one of the towns under Davao del Norte is famed for its white sand beaches and coral gardens. It is one of the primary tourist destinations in Davao Region.
According to data from the IGaCoS tourism office about 680,064 tourists visited in 2014, a 22% increase from 2013. Foreign tourist arrivals in Samal last 2014 was pegged at 29,450. Overnight foreign tourists increased a whopping 186% (17,208) from 2013 figures (6,014).
Araceli Ayuste, chair of the Davao del Norte Tourism Council in an earlier interview said that the kidnapping is a signal that the threat is still there and there is a need for security to be strengthened in the island particularly in comlng up with a communication mechanism that would relay information to authorities immediately.
The last known incident was in 2001 when Abu Sayaff terrrorists conducted a midnight raid on Pearl Farm which was thwarted by the resort’s security, however two employees were killed in the attack.
Conflicting views
Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario during the Regional Development Conference meeting last September 23 cited the need to implement a security plan in Samal.
One of his suggestions is having an open beachline, which would enable security forces to have easier access to resorts in case they would respond to incidents.
Samal’s beachline are impeded with natural and man-made obstructions such as jetties and breakwaters.
The Governor also said that the resort’s exclusivity is the reason the police cannot conduct a thorough security survey among the resorts in the island.
The clearing of Samal’s beaches have been a contentious issue as the local government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have urged resorts to follow the Water Code provisions on shoreline easements.
Resort owners have contended that security from terrorism is one of their reasons why they have jetties and breakwaters in their resorts as it fences off unwanted intruders.
Security and privacy are one of the selling points of many resorts. (PIA)
