By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 30, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Promoting the country as a destination for divorcees is “practically synonymous to marketing the Philippines as a destination for sex tourists,†Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan said yesterday.
The lawmaker was reacting to the statement of Tourism Assistant Secretary Domingo Ramon Enerio III that the agency is developing the Philippines as a destination for divorcees or those trying to recover from broken relationships.
“The Department of Tourism is treading on dangerous waters... You cannot promote the country as a place to comfort and console the broken hearted without bringing in Filipino women in the equation,†she said.
Ilagan said the Department of Tourism should rethink its strategy.
“We have so many tourism destinations to promote and develop. Let us focus on our pristine coastlines, our rivers and our mountains,†she said.
Enerio earlier said that the divorcee market is an untapped sector that can be targeted for the long-stay tourism program. “If we can be a wedding or honeymoon destination, we can be vice versa and become a destination for those in search of personal fulfillment, including those... in flight from domestic turmoil,†he said.
He said the Philippines can offer both relaxation and adventure to these tourists.
Aside from divorcees, he said, other possible markets for long-stay tourism are retirees, semi-retirees looking for investment venues, medical tourists, those escaping from the cold winter season, and those who have affluent children.
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Topic: DOT hit for promoting Phl as destination for divorcees (Read 550 times)