Body to regulate adventure tours eyed

Downstream canyoneering experience pictures by uploaded by Aldrin Carba or known as ‘Ya Man’ three months ago on his Facebook account. (Contributed)

The Department of Tourism and tourism stakeholders called for the creation of a body that will review and regulate adventure sports and tour packages in Cebu.

Both DOT Regional Director Rowena Montecillo and Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said they favor temporarily suspending the canyoneering activity to give organizers more time to improve and set up safety standards for their programs.

The proposal stemmed from last Saturday’s death of 26-year-old canyoneering tour guide Aldrin Carba at the Kanlaob River in barangay Compostela, Alegria town, southwestern Cebu.

“We need experts to help us ensure safety. The body should be private-sector led because they have the expertise. But we will extend any assistance needed to set it up,” Montecillo said.

Magpale said despite the growing prominence of southwestern Cebu’s canyoneering trail to local and foreign tourists, Magpale said the people’s safety is a priority.

Damage

“I feel bad for Aldrin and the family he left behind. Tourism is beneficial but we also have to put the safety of the people participating in it. For me, lives are more important,” Magpale said.

Montecillo said they will also work closely with the local government units (LGUs) to ensure that these adventure tour and sports packages have the safety nets in place for participants.

Alice Queblatin, Tourism Congress vice president for travel and tour groups in the Visayas, said the creation of a tourism body to oversee adventure tour packages is long overdue.

“Safety is a major concern in all tours especially adventure tours, and bigger damage is done when an accident happens. Adventure tours is a niche market with specific requirements and skills that clients expect,” Queblatin said.

Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu president Cenelyn Manguilimotan said all outdoor adventure activities are subject to risks.

Suspension

“Activities like trekking, hiking are part of other countryside activities. We refrain from hard adventure because of challenges like international accreditation, insurance coverage, licenses of adventure guides and more,” she said.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief, recommended the temporary suspension of canyoneering and other related activities in the area pending a review of its safety guidelines.

Alegria town mayor Verna Magallon said she ordered barangay officials to prohibit tourists from heading to Kanlaob River.

She said she also wants to coordinate with the Badian municipal government to ensure that there is no canyoneering activity at Kanlaob river.

“We just want to make sure that no one can go in Kanlaob river as of the mean time. It’s also for everyone’s safety,” Magallon said.

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