Camiguin island in the Philippines eyes volcano tourism

Camiguin, Philippines (TAN): Camiguin island, one of Philippines’ top tourism destinations, has launched another attraction for both outdoor enthusiasts and mountain trekkers.

Camiguin’s chain of volcanoes, especially Mount Hibok-Hibok, will be on the radar of adventure seekers as the provincial government, the department of tourism-10, and the department of environment and natural resources-10 launched “Climb Camiguin” on Saturday, March 23.

Climb Camiguin will promote the province as a prime destination for mountain tourism in the country.

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Camiguin is an island-province in the Philippines located in the Bohol Sea, about 10 kilometres off the northern coast of Mindanao.

“The province recognizes the potential of volcano tourism for driving the socioeconomic growth and development of the local community,” Camiguin governor Maria Luisa Romualdo said in a release during the launch.

Mt Hibok-Hibok and the adjacent Mt Timpoong were recently declared by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Centre for Biodiversity as an ASEAN heritage park, now officially known as the Mt Timpoong-Mt Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, and now counts as among the few of such protected areas in the country.

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One of the concerns that the tourism department has addressed before launching the Climb Camiguin project is crafting of legislation by local governments to protect the mountains in their areas. “Legislations should be in place, and communities must be involved in this,” department of tourism-10 regional director Marie Elaine Unchuan was quoted by Davos Today as saying.

Gideon Lasco of the Philippine Mountaineering Today said development must not just focus on improving the lives of people, but also on preserving the natural resources of a tourism area like Camiguin.

“The need to protect the mountains is a very valid motivation to take care of the environment. But we who climb mountains, and all our friends, have the opportunity to promote a different kind of motivation to protect the mountains, and that is because we love them,” Lasco was quoted by Davos Today as saying.A team of climbers and social media influencers hiked their way to the summit of Mt Hibok-Hibok to kick off the campaign.

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