The trip to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam makes the members of the Vigan City Council wonder in awe how this country survived an infamous war and becomes a favorite destination of tourists. Let's take the case of HOI AN. Referred to as an old town, the place is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. In here, one can find rows of shop houses of Chinese and French influences. Compared to Vigan, our ancestral houses are far more grandiose and aesthetically imposing but Hoi An has more visitors who come in millions, considering that both place were inscribed in UNESCO simultaneously in 1999. I've been wondering why Hoi an has more visitors than Vigan. National factors might have affected Philippine Tourism in general such as the issues on kidnapping, bombings, street crimes(hold-up robberies, pick-pockets, cellphone or bag snatching, and the like) in urban centers like Manila. Unlike in Vietnam, the Philippine national government is not agressively promoting heritage sites like Vigan as tourist destination. Hoi An is being promoted agressively by both the local and national governments of Vietnam. Another factor is the souvenir items. Hoi An has plenty of them while Vigan has to rely on suppliers outside Vigan. Local artists such as painters, wood carvers, lantern makers, embroiders, pottery makers and performing artists among others abound in Hoi An. Hence, traditional crafts and industries of the town are income earners.
The ticketing system of the tourism department of the place is very entreprenurial. Instead of the traditional entrance ticket at the Historic district, the ticketing system was done in such a way that those availing it can visit and view one of the 4 museums, one of the 4 old houses, one of the 3 assembly halls, handicraft workshop and traditional music performance, and either the Japanese Bridge or Quan Cong Temple. Revenue capture by the local government of Hoi An is ensured through this package heritage walks in the form of one ticket with several stubs worth only 75,ooo Vietnamese Dong or 5 US dollars per head.
Tourism in Hoi An is so vibrant. Aside from the historic district it can boast of a port where trade and commerce is very much alive. Restaurants are mostly operated by members of families who act as
cooks, food servers and managers. The World Class Hoi An beach resort which is owned by the Provincial Government of Qua'ng Nam has opened its doors to investors. Around 40% shares have been offered to the private sector.
cooks, food servers and managers. The World Class Hoi An beach resort which is owned by the Provincial Government of Qua'ng Nam has opened its doors to investors. Around 40% shares have been offered to the private sector. The trip to Hoi An, Vietnam is indeed a learning experience!
4 comments:
The Viet Congs kicked-out American assesses while the Filipino politicos kissed Uncle Sam’s ass until death. There’s a big difference between national liberation and collaboration.
Tourism industry is one of the profitable sources of income in metropolitan Vigan. It’s long overdue to have direct flights from Manila to Vigan. Mindoro airport should be modernized and expand its runways to accommodate bigger planes. Tourists from nearby Hong Kong and Taiwan can have direct flight to Vigan. I don’t know if the city government has a back up or contingency plan in case of heavy influx of tourists from hotel accommodation, public safety to environmental menace.
The United States' Federal Aviation Administration has found the Philippines to be an unsafe port of origin, downgrading the country from category 1 to category 2. This U.S. FAA assessment may have an impact on Philippines’ tourism industry. The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) officials are sleeping on their job. I think they are more interested in big time kickbacks like the $329 M NBN- China ZTE Corp. broadband scam.
Hello, Luningning! You have a valid point. Rehabilitation of the Vigan airport is long overdue and may help to boost local economy. Vigan airport popularly known as Mindoro Airport is a showcase of anomalous ATO monkey business, criminal negligence, and aviation safety concern. Where on earth an airstrip or runway is dissected by busy national road? Tricycles, calesa and light motor vehicles cross this airstrip 24/7. This road is the main artery from Barangay Mindoro-San Pedro to the city proper. The other aviation safety concern is the airport itself. This is a perfect recipe for air disaster. The airport perimeter is a grazing ground for cows, goats and stray pigs. Even an UFO terrestrial traveler won’t dare to land on Vigan airport. Why? They might think that four-legged animals are manning the airport and supervised by two-legged crocodiles in barong Tagalog.
dear luningning and hollywoodside kid,
sorry fot the late response to your comments. I was busy during the fiesta celeberation of Vigan.
Not all politicos kiss Uncle Sam's ass. There are many nationalsist politicos in the Philippines. Members of the Liberal Party headed by former senator Jovito Salonga lead 13 senators in rejecting the continued stay of US Bases in the Philippines.
I agree with you that it's long overdue that commercial flights be available in Vigan. The problem is that the Air Transportation Office of the national government which has jurisdiction over this matter seems to be apathetic in modernizing the Vigan airport. There are feelers from airline companies that they are interested to operate commercial flights but this remains to be seen. The City of Vigan has sent several resolutions of request to concerned agencies asking for assistance in rehabilitating the airport but it remains a dream up to this time.
In so far as tourism is concerned, such is a component of the Vigan Masterplan. All aspects sorrounding tourism has been addressed in the masterplan.We hope that we can come up soon with Vigan's counterpart in rehabilitating the airport. Air transport has also been identified as an issue during the strategic planning of the City Government sometime in august.
Sana naman magpakilala kayo sa tunay nyong identity. As a liberal, I assure to respect your right to express freely yourselves
It’s about time to kick asses at DOTC particularly the Air Transportation Office (ATO). We consider it as long shot action against erring ATO officials. DOTC chief and former police general Leandro Mendoza is one of the top level conspirators against Erap in January 2001 coup. General Mendoza is untouchable under the Arroyo regime.
I remember the 13 magnificent anti-U.S. base senators. Sen. Joseph Estrada voted for the dismantling of U.S. Subic Nava Base and Clark AFB. Erap’s nationalist stand causes him the presidency 11 years later. It’s payback time; Uncle Sam quickly recognized the Gloria Arroyo’s puppet government in January 2001 coup. The U.S. embassy in Manila knows it was an unconstitutional removal of popularly elected president of the republic. U.S. interests in the Philippines must be protected.
The U.S. got its Philippine bases back via US-RP Balikatan recurring military exercises. It’s disguise as training exercises, humanitarian and engineering projects. The September 11, 2001 attack that changed U.S. perceptions of the conflict in Mindanao. U.S. Special Forces are active in Sulu, Basilan and Zamboanga peninsula hunting down Al Qaeda-JI linked Abu Sayyaf Islamic radicals. They are meddling in our domestic affairs. Heavily armed G.I. Joes reportedly entered the hospital in Panamao on Jolo Island in late November and ordered doctors to close it down every night, preventing them from treating patients. What, martial law? Gloria Arroyo and her defense officials treated the hospital closure as minor incident.
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