“With more British tourists coming to the Philippines, the country can make it easier for visitors to reach destinations with better roads, airports and transportation.
Connectivity is key, said British Ambassador Asif Anwar Ahmad in a talk with reporters yesterday.
He said he was glad there are now direct flights between UK and the Philippines as well as convenient airport transfers to Cebu.
After a straight 14-hour flight from Europe, tourists want to get to their resorts immediately, he said, something that requires more investment in infrastructure.
Ahmad was in Cebu for the British Embassy’s Great Campaign which aims to present the best of British business and culture to the world.
Ahmad said the number of British tourists has been increasing over the past years. A total of 120,000 UK residents visited the Philippines last year.
Improve what is already here, he said, such as air-conditioning some jeepneys and making sure bancas are safe to ride.
“You have very delicious food that only needs packaging and branding to be known globally just like Thai and Chinese food which are known around the world,” he said.
The ambassador was asked if the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash in Mindanao where 44 police commandos were killed by Muslim rebels would affect the prospect of British tourists visiting the country.
“Follow the path of peace. Say what you agree and disagree on and why. Always make peace your aim,” he said.
He said he would like every Filipino to work towards resolving the long-running armed conflict in Mindanao.
He said the United Kingdom also had a long history of conflict before it reached its current peaceful state.
“What happened here also happened in UK. It came to a point where we lived in a stage of siege in our own country and that helped to turn things around and gained more commitment for peace,” said Ahmad.
He said people they considered terrorists in the past now occupy key government positions and participate in the country’s development.
Great Britain has been working with the Philippines in the peace process since 2008, said Ahmad.
“We played a role in helping where it’s needed. We have been regularly attending all meetings of the government and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and we thought we were moving in the right direction with the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law). What happened (in Mamasapano) was sad and the ongoing investigation should be able to shed some light on the incident,” he said.
He encouraged Filipinos to read the BBL and make objective comments geared to achieving peace.
A UK in Miniature exhibit in SM City Cebu will run until Sunday. Last night was the screening of National Theatre Live: Frankenstein.
Ahmad delivered a keynote speech at the UK Education Forum in the University of San Carlos and met with government officials and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to learn more about the business climate and commercial opportunities in Cebu.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
