Mindanao: Gateway to ASEAN
Joji Ilagan-BianConsidered the second-largest island in the country, Mindanao has finally started getting the attention of travelers.
Mindanao tourist arrivals, particularly those from other countries, have increased over the years despite unfavorable travel advisories issued by western countries, many of which did not even have sound basis.
Last year, total visitor arrival here reached 2.93 million, with 108,062 coming from other countries such as the US, Japan, Korea, Australia and Malaysia. This was 10 percent more than year-ago level.
Mindanao has three international airports -- in the cities of Davao, Zamboanga and General Santos -- although only the first two accommodate direct international flights.
Initiatives
Prime movers of Mindanao development, especially tourism industry players, have come together to promote Mindanao as an international gateway, given its proximity to the rest of the countries in Asia and the Pacific and its accessibility considering its air and sea linkages with those countries.
The Department of Tourism and the airline companies in Davao City, for example, came up with a program that aims to intensify travel between Davao, a haven for business in Mindanao, and the rest of the world.
During the program launch, airline executives announced some proposed flights between the city and certain international destinations.
Similar moves have also been undertaken in other parts of Mindanao. In Zamboanga City, based on the announcement of the Mindanao Economic Development Council in May, Asian Spirit had started servicing three times a week the Zamboanga City-Sandakan, Malaysia route using the Japanese-built Weiss-11 60-seater plane.
There are also attempts to mount direct flights between Zamboanga and Bander Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darrusalam.
Fifth-freedom rights
These developments are taking place as the four-country East ASEAN Growth Area started implementing the fifth freedom traffic rights. Leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines believe that with the implementation of this travel concept, their respective destinations will get a boost from the growing number of Asian and other foreign travelers.
This particular travel mechanism, which Mindanao leaders have been pushing since a decade ago, allows an aircraft to pick passengers and cargoes in any airport within the sub-region aside from its home airport. This enables an airline to sustain operations even in missionary routes.
Many flights in the past did not survive mainly because traffic was not really that active even in primary Mindanao destinations such as Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and Cotabato.
With the strengthening of cooperation between Mindanao and the rest of the East ASEAN Growth Area, great things are expected to take place in the tourism sector, including more flights between the sub-region and the rest of the world.
There is an attempt to bring in more tourists from China and South Korea. These markets have expressed interests in Mindanao. Last month, the tourism industry players in Davao went to Seoul for the Korean World Travel Mart as part of the Philippine delegation.
Sea linkages
There are also the emerging sea linkages between key Mindanao areas and the rest of the sub-region. One of them is the link between General Santos City and Bitung, Indonesia, which has been vibrant in the last couple of months owing to increasing trade between the Jose Abad Santos-Sarangani-Glan-Cooperation Triangle, and Bitung and other nearby ports.
These developments should provide more business and tourism opportunities for Mindanao and make it a viable gateway not only to the ASEAN but also to the rest of the world.
