KORONADAL CITY – The Provincial Government of South Cotabato has strengthened its tourism promotion efforts through the turnover and installation of promotional collaterals at the Koronadal City Integrated Transport Terminal Complex.
The initiative, led by the Tourism Promotions of the Arts, Culture, Tourism and Museum Unit, aims to showcase South Cotabato’s diverse tourist destinations, cultural heritage, and local attractions for travelers passing through one of the region’s busiest transport hubs.
Francis Cerbo, Jr., Tourism Operations Officer I and Tourism Promotions Head, emphasized that utilizing communication materials is a powerful way to capture the attention of travelers daily.
“This project is a major step forward in directly bringing the beauty of South Cotabato closer to our commuting public and tourists. By establishing our tourism showcases in strategic gateways like this, we are not just promoting our premier destinations, but we are also giving travelers a firsthand glimpse of our rich culture and unique identity before they even step foot into our province,” Cerbo stated.
Meanwhile, City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office Head Elric Batilaran welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the importance of strong collaboration between the provincial and city governments in advancing tourism development.
“The installation of these promotional materials is a step toward increasing the visibility of our tourism destinations and encouraging more visitors to explore what South Cotabato has to offer,” he said.
Batilaran said a clear and meaningful partnership in implementing tourism programs will have a significant impact not only on tourism in Koronadal City but also across the entire Province of South Cotabato.
Addressing the current challenges facing the travel sector, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Nelia Arina noted that soaring fuel prices, weak internet connectivity, and the geographical distance of South Cotabato from major national gateways remain significant hurdles for prospective travelers.
To counter these external pressures, the director emphasized that drawing in local tourists represents the most viable and immediate economic driver for the province’s tourism industry today.
By focusing heavily on domestic and regional visitors who are less affected by long-haul travel costs, South Cotabato can effectively sustain its local hospitality businesses and maintain steady foot traffic across its premier cultural and eco-tourism destinations, Arina said.
Yesterday, the office was scheduled to install similar promotional collaterals in General Santos City as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen tourism promotion for South Cotabato and the entire SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12).
