As resorts still down, Mayor encourages tourists to try homestay in Sta. Fe
President Aquino listens to Bantayan Mayor Ian Christopher Escario as they inspect bancas donated by Carmen Copper Corp. at the Bantayan Wharf during his Feb. 25 visit of Bantayan Island. (Malacañang Photo Bureau)
Try homestay in Sta. Fe and enjoy its beaches.
This is Sta. Fe Mayor Jose Esgara’s advice to tourists visiting the town as most of its beach resorts damaged by typhoon Yolanda have yet to be rehabilitated.
Esgara said that he was worried that there would be less tourists visiting the town because of the slow pace of rehabilitation of the resorts.
Esgara said that as of last week there are only three out of the eleven beach resorts that have been rehabilitated and are operating in the town.
He advised tourists to practice the homestay concept if the beach resorts could not accommodate them.
The concept involves residents hosting tourists to stay in their homes for a fee.
Sta. Fe is one of the three towns of Bantayan Island in northern Cebu which is known for its beaches and considered one of the summer tourist destinations of Cebu. The other two towns are Bantayan and Madridejos.
He, however, is optimistic that the beach resorts can still earn from the stay of about 100 private sector volunteers, who are helping in the rehabilitation of the town.
Esgara said Pru-Life UK will pay for the stay of these volunteers.
AQUINO VISIT
President Aquino also visited Bantayan Island last week to check on the progress of the island’s rehabilitation.
Aquino said he wanted the island to become a major tourist destination like Boracay Island.
“Maganda ang Bantayan Island. Dapat tulungan natin ito na maging isang tourist attraction,” Aquino said.
Aquino also said that to increase the number of tourists visiting the island, the island should have an airport and a port terminal.
He said that there are about 4.7 million tourists visiting the country yearly and he wants the number of tourists to reach 10 million by 2016.
“Pag-aaralan natin ang panibagong airport at daungan ng barko. Pagtulungan natin ito para sa dagdag kita nila,” Aquino explained.
Bantayan Island has an airport in Sta. Fe. However, its runway remains unfinished.
Esgara said that he will review the budget in the Capitol to see how much will be needed to complete the runway.
“The airport is ready for expansion. At least if the runway is finished then we can target one to two flights a day,” Esgara added.
Esgara also mentioned to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III that if the province does not have enough funds for the project, the LGUs will coordinate with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
“There are also a lot of investors like airlines who expressed their interest to finish the airport,” he said.
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