COR0N-BUSUANGA-CULION SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CIRCUIT DEVELOPMENT (Province of Palawan)

Project Goal make Coron – Busuanga – Culion Circuit as a competitive and business investment friendly tourism development area delivering economic opportunities while protecting the environment, cultural and social resources

Increased visitor arrivals, length of stay and visitor spending Increased investments in tourism facilities and services that generate local employment

Project Description: The project focuses on the three municipalities of the Calamianes Group of Isands where the concentration of tourism attractions and resources are found Calamianes particularly Coron and Busuanga have long been known as among the top ecotourism destinations

Project Description: The project adopts a tourism circuit approach that mainstreams disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to the sustainable development of tourism in the area

Project Description: Seeks to protect the Calamianes’ image as a high value/high quality tourist destination through professionalizing services, improvement of facilities, tourism product enhancement and marketing initiatives

Project Description: The project will promote inclusiveness in tourism growth by creating employment opportunities, integrating communities as providers in the tourism value chain and facilitating the involvement of indigenous peoples in tourism-related initiatives

Framework Tourism Circuit Development with Enhancement of tourism products and services Service Quality Enhancement Development of new, socio-culturally and environmentally sensitive product concepts by consolidating existing tourism circuits and packages within and across the tourism development areas in Coron, Busuanga, and Culion Institutionalize feedback mechanism on service quality, pricing at the enterprise and local area level in partnership with the academe Raise standards of facilities, tour operations and services Development of enhanced local enabling environment for tourism development

Project Proponents Provincial Government of Palawan Municipal Government of Coron Municipal Government of Busuanga Municipal Government of Culion Palawan Tourism Council Calamian Association of Tourism Establishments

National Government Agencies in the Project Implementation Team Department of the Interior and Local Government Department of Tourism Department of Public Works and Highways Department of Trade and Industry Department of Social Welfare and Development Department of Transportation and Communication Department of Agriculture

Tourist Arrivals (Palawan) Year Domestic Foreign Total Growth Rate 2013 641,901 241,118 883,019 6% 2012 640,394 192,201 832,595 29% 2011 513,997 131,150 645,147 23% 2010 397,078 126,794 523,872 52% 2009 307,248 55,317 362,565 28% 2008 234,367 48,670 283,037 26%

Tourist Arrivals (Coron) Year Figure % Increase 2013 91,580 8% 2012 84,669 26% 2011 67,306 34% 2010 50,134 30% 2009 38,497 178% 2008 13,849

Accommodation Establishments (as of May 2014) Municipality Accom Establishments No of Rooms Coron 65 977 Busuanga 22 135 Culion 6 89 TOTAL 93 1,201

On Going/Pipeline Project Roads (DOT-DPWH Convergence Program) Road connecting Busuanga airport-Kiwit Road leading to various beaches, Busuanga (Provincial) Coron-Busuanga Road leading to Busuanga Airport to Coron and Calauit Island (National Secondary) Access Road to Maquinit Hotsprings Coron (Provincial)

On Going/Pipeline Project Airport/Port Development New Busuanga Airport (DOTC/P4.3B) RORO Port (Borac, Coron)

On Going/Pipeline Project Proposed (DOT-DPWH Convergence Program) Poblacion-Tagumpay-Marcilla-Borac leading to the proposed RORO Port YKR – Decalachao-Cheey-New Quezon Circumferential Road

Map of on going/pipeline projects

Key Tourism Circuits

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 1) Infrastructure A. Development of economic infrastructure and facilities Upgrading of Busuanga Airport Construction of RORO Port Concreting of Poblacion-Tagumpay-Marcilla-Borac YKR-Decalachao-Cheey-New Quezon YKR Borac, Coron Coron

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 1) Infrastructure Coron – Busuanga Interpretive Road and Circuit Softscape Development (Information Centers, Restrooms, Signages, Souvenir shops, viewdecks) Calauit Safari Park Facility Development Coron –Busuanga, Culion Busuanga

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 2) Tourism Product Development A. Development and marketing of competitive sustainable tourism products Coron Birdwatching Coron Countryside Adventure Tour Coron Island Cultural Tour Sangat-Bintuan Community Based Tourism (Sangat Coral Gardens and Bintuan Mangrove Boardwalk) Coron

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 2) Tourism Product Development Busuanga River Cruise Calauit Wildlife Safari Park Product Enhancement (kayaking, mangrove tour, trekking, biking, camping, birdwatching, firefly watching, dugong watching, swimming) Panlaitan Village Tour Busuanga

Priority Projects Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 2) Tourism Product Development Concepcion-Sagrada-Bogtong Marine Protected Area Tourism Development Concepcion Falls Facility Development Culion Historical Tour Enhancement Cabulihan Mangrove Tour Aguila Hill Trek and Sunrise Watching Busuanga Culion

Priority Projects Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 2) Tourism Product Development B. Enhancement of existing tour modules C. Standardize tourism facilities and services Across TDA’s

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 3) Human Resource Development A. Integrate local communities in the industry Organize communities for community based tourism product management Institutionalize network of tourism enterprises and other sector for manpower pooling Across TDA’s

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 3) Human Resource Development Service Providers’/Stakeholders’ Capability Building Specialize/Advance Tour Guiding Training Organize women for souvenir making, food preparation and handling Across TDA’s

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 4) Destination Marketing A. Investment Promotions Strategy and Action Plan Development of data base of investment areas for investment promotions Preparation of marketing and promotions plan Production of investment manuals, maps and other promotional collaterals Across TDA’s

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 5) Enabling Policies and Programs Empower LGU’s in creating business and investment friendly destination Strengthening of LEIPO/LEDIP Team Updating of CLUP’s, Tourism Codes Incorporation of Risk Reduction Plans to Development Plans Across TDA’s

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 5) Enabling Policies and Programs Institutionalizaton of Information and Statistics System Streamlining and Computerization of BPLS Institutionalization of fees and rate system Tourism Development Master Planning Across TDA’s

Priority Projects Project Cluster Intervention Location 5) Enabling Policies and Programs Institutionalization of Tourism Offices Enactment of Incentive and Investment Codes Institution of Information and Statistics System Streamlining and Computerization of BPLS Across TDA’s

Presentation for NETT Tourism Meeting End Presentation for NETT Tourism Meeting DILG LGSP – LED July 23, 2014 Palawan PIT