Palawan ready to welcome Korean tourists

ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk delivers an opening speech during the ASEAN-Korea Tourism Capacity Building Workshop at Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa in Palawan, the Philippines, Aug. 24. / Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo

This is the first of two articles on the ASEAN-Korea Tourism Capacity Building Workshop organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre in Palawan, the Philippines, and Melaka, Malaysia, from Aug. 22 -28. — ED.

By Yi Whan-woo

Lee Hyuk

PALAWAN, the Philippines — Direct flights from Korea since June and a rise in Korean arrivals is fueling optimism for job and wealth creation on the Philippines' scenic islands of Palawan.

But it also poses a challenge for striking a balance between tourism and environmental damage, as has happened in Boracay, Cebu and Koreans' other favorite tourist destinations in the Philippines.

To help Palawan's promotion campaign as a natural heritage destination in tandem with sustainable development, the ASEAN-Korea Centre, in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Tourism, organized a Tourism Capacity Building Workshop in Palawan's provincial capital of Puerto Princesa on Aug. 24.

Titled "Discovering Palawan as an attractive natural heritage destination," the workshop at Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa attracted more than 160 tourism professionals from various sectors including governments, tourism boards, travel agencies, hotels, academia and non-governmental organizations (NGOs.)

"We will focus on this amazing natural heritage site in Palawan to help preserve its natural value and promote it as an attractive natural destination for Koreans," ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General and former Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Hyuk said in an opening address.

He spearheaded the 13-member Seoul delegation including his staff, four guest speakers — Klook Travel's General Manager Lee Zun-ho, Hyatt International Corporation's Director of Finance Baek Seung-woo, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council's Asia-Pacific Director Kang Mi-hee and Good Travel CEO Na Hyo-woo — and Korea Culture and Tourism Institute research fellow Lee Won-hee.

Among the Philippine dignitaries were Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III, Regional Director Marissa Diploma and Chief Tourism Operations Officer Alex Macatuno — all from the Philippine Department of Tourism — Puerto Princesa City Office's Acting Vice Mayor Maria Nancy Socrates and two guest speakers — Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park's Park Superintendent Elizabeth Maclang and Association of Accredited Tourist Accommodation in Puerto Princesa President Elcer Cuenca.

ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk, fourth from left, poses with Philippine Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III, sixth from left, Puerto Princesca City Office's Acting Vice Mayor Maria Nancy, fifth from left, Philippine Department of Tourism Regional Director Marissa Diploma, third from left, and guest speakers from the two countries during the ASEAN-Korea Tourism Capacity Building Workshop at Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa in Palawan, the Philippines, Aug. 24. / Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre

Korea topped the number of international visitors to the Philippines in 2017 with 1.6 million, followed by China (968,450), the U.S. (957,810) and Japan (584,180), according to data compiled by the Philippines' Department of Tourism, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the World Travel and Tourism Council.

In 2017, Korea (with more than 19,700 visitors) ranked sixth in the number of international tourists to Palawan, after the U.S., Taiwan, China, France and the U.K.

Since June, non-stop flights have connected Incheon to Palawan every day and Busan to Palawan four days a week. The number of Korean travelers flying from Incheon to the archipelagic province of the Philippines is expected to reach 120,000 this year, according to Incheon International Airport officials.

Taking this into account, Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III, during his welcoming address, urged tourism leaders in the region "to be familiar with the traits and characteristics" of Korean travelers and "be able to provide the appropriate and suitable services."

In a separate address, Acting Vice Mayor Socrates stressed that the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, Honda Bay Islands and other biodiversity hotspots in Palawan were there "through no effort from us humans."

"Our role is to conserve and protect these resources and make sure that guests enjoy themselves and stay safe," she said.

The workshop had four sessions and a panel discussion. In their respective sessions, the guest speakers offered tips on how Palawan could offer tailor-made services for Koreans and how tourism could contribute to sustainable development and regional prosperity.

Former Samsung Electronics marketing strategist, Lee Zun-ho explained about Korea's emergence as free independent travelers (FITs) and their rapidly changing travel trend using social media — mainly YouTube and Instagram.

He also noted FITs booked their travel activities online on sites such as Klook, a Hong Kong-based travel activities startup.

Baek Seung-woo underscored the importance of narrowing language and cultural barriers, suggesting hotels and other lodgings should be equipped with Korean-language service manuals, have at least one Korean TV channel and include Korean cuisine on room service menus.

Elcer Cuenca talked about an accommodation development strategy from the Philippines perspective in a joint session with Baek.

Kang Mi-hee and Elizabeth Maclang each talked about their respective views on how to balance tourism development with the preservation of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Na Hyo-woo used the term "fair travel" and emphasized responsible tourism practices and tourism's role in the fair distribution of wealth and co-prosperity.

The ASEAN-Korea Tourism Capacity Building Workshop was the first in Palawan since the workshops began in 2009.

The audience reacted positively to the workshop.

Deborah Tan, marketing director of Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort, said the workshop was timely.

"Korean tourist arrivals are steadily increasing. Palawan should be aware of the needs of Korean tourists so the tourism establishments in Palawan can better accommodate them," she said.

She expressed hope that Palawan would be able to "enhance its ability as a top eco-tourism destination with this workshop."

Enrico Coco, who runs the Paboreal Boutique Hotel, said he was happy to learn about dealing with the language barrier and Korean cuisine.

"We must make an effort to find a way to communicate easier with our Korean guests ... We also must make an effort to provide basic cuisine that will make them happy when they stay here," he said.

Before the workshop, the Korean delegation visited the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Butterfly Eco-Garden and Tribal Village and Binuatan Weaving Creations Center.

The delegation was greeted by Palawan Province Governor Jose Alvarez when it arrived from Incheon.

The ASEAN-Korea Centre, a Seoul-based international organization, aims to enhance relations between 10 ASEAN countries and Korea.

The workshop runs in line with the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025, which recognizes the importance of human resources and connectivity.

The Philippines previously hosted the workshop in Cebu, Boracay and Davo.