Echoes From
BY JOHNNY DAYANG

Coron: The next boomtown in tourism

During our recent visit in Puerto Princesa City, we were told that the boomtown in tourism industry is likely to be Coron, a tropical place blessed with natural endowments and now in the throes of transformation located at the Northern part of the Island Paradise of Palawan.
This is so despite travel advisories against the Philippines due to the bloody outcome of the Rizal Park hostage-taking incident. We just hope that the adverse impact on tourism will subside soon.
Drawing inspiration from the success of Boracay Island, Palawan, as a whole, is increasingly becoming a world-class tourist destination that boasts of spectacularly rich resources, exotic flora and fauna, myriads of fish teeming around the islands and islets that make the province a class by itself.
Here are some interesting bits of trivial about Palawan: If you want to stay away from typhoons and earthquakes the place to go is Palawan. Its geographical location makes a haven from natural calamities. And the soil composition of Palawan, which is rich in manganese, is largely acidic and this explains why it is known for agri produce.
Ah, but it’s an entirely different story when it comes to marine bio-diversity and resources. In this regard, Palawan is the standout and has now evolved into a major attraction for both local and foreign tourists. This blessed province boats of bountiful fishing grounds.
The second largest province in the country, Palawan abounds with diverse and ecologically rich tropical destinations that have vast potential to be developed into eco-tourism havens. Beneath its seas are variable underwater gardens consisting of 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs where exotic species of fish can be found.
The underwater wonders of Palawan, particularly in Coron have attracted divers from all over the world. It is a boost to tourism that the road from Busuanga airport to Coron town proper is now paved with concrete, substantially cutting travel time down to twenty minutes. Incidentally, Coron is now in an upbeat mood as it celebrates its town fiesta which will culminate this weekend.
Happy Fiesta to all Coronians, especially to my friend Ariel Fernandez and Mayor Mario “Marjo” Reyes. We have invited both Ariel and Mayor Marjo to attend our Visayas Media Forum on September 25 to 26, 2010 in Boracay Island which has its theme “The New Media in the Service of Tourism.”