Region 12 revs up promotion, dev’t of tourism ‘jewels’

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Nov 12 – Tourism stakeholders in Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao are seeking more investments for various development initiatives focusing on the region’s prime tourism “jewels.”

Bai Sandra Sema, Region 12 tourism council president, said the move is part of their ongoing efforts to help propel the region in the global tourism map through a more focused development and promotion of major tourism attractions within the region’s four provinces and five cities.

Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Kidapawan, Tacurong and Cotabato.

Sema said topping the region’s “12 jewels” are the famed three natural lakes of Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato that was earlier adopted by the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) as among the sub-region’s pilot areas for a community-based tourism program supported by the Asian Development Bank.

She said the lakeside town’s T’nalak weaving may be packaged along with its natural attractions, which included seven waterfalls and several natural springs, for cultural and ecotourism promotion.

For history enthusiasts, she said Region 12 has the popular PC Hill in Cotabato City, a landmark stone fort that stood as witness to decades of significant events in the area.

PC Hill derived its name from the words "pietro colina", which means stone hill.

“The locals then called it 'Kuta Wato' and it later became Cotabato, which the city was named after,” Sema explained at a recent forum in Koronadal City.

She said Cotabato City’s People’s Palace and Sultan Kudarat’s Provincial Capitol are now becoming popular for tourists because of their elegant Muslim-inspired architecture.

Sema said the other tourism “jewels” in the region are the Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, in North Cotabato; the tuna fishing in General Santos City; and, the white sand beaches of Gumasa in Glan, Sarangani.

“Region12 is blessed with attractions such as mountains, caves and springs. We have these in North Cotabato and in Senator Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat, which spelunkers and enthusiasts called as one of the most beautiful in the world,” Sema said.

She said the other interesting “jewels” included in their list are the popular cultural festivals such as the T‘nalak of South Cotabato, Hinugyaw of Koronadal City, Munato of Maitum in Sarangani, Talakudong of Tacurong City, Kuyog Tanu of Cotabato City and Tuna and Kalilangan of General Santos City.

Sema said tourists may also be interested to explore the Fruit festival of Kidapawan City as well as try out the traditional crafts like the woven Inaul and various food delicacies that abound in the region.(PNA)

FFC/AVE

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