By: Joe Sprite

One of the important development programs that Jagna is the promotion is of tourism. This industry alone promises returns but it also can generate plenty of opportunities along the side. Tourists leave money in form of accommodation, food and travel expenses. They also take with them souvenirs as mementos. Most leave tips for services well rendered. They do not only generate income for eateries, inns and lodging houses but for support facilities as well like transportation, communication and other support enterprises. Should a town become a tourist destination, livelihood projects such as truck gardening, cut flower industry, handicraft would spring up.

To make things interesting for the tourist, what does Jagna have to offer? If developed, there could be plenty. As to beach resorts, we have the pebbly beach of Canuba , the rocky resorts of Batong Buhay and the Delilah in the vicinity of Larapan. We could perhaps include Paseo del Mar of Pangdan in line for improvement. To develop them further, they could be made bases for dive spots since Jagna has beautiful coral reefs with colorful marine life for amateur divers.

For mountain resorts, we have the Sky Garden of the Hacienda Gervacio near by, a five-minute ride from Poblacion. If this will be fitted with function rooms, this would be an ideal site for stay in seminars and retreats. Farther inland is the Kinahugan Falls . Farther yet is the Boctol Lovers Falls and the Boctol Swimming Pool. Nearby, if one would go through the nature trail is the Jumping Lady Falls and the Siling Pool of Balili. For a nature trip, a tourist could investigate the Narra Centennial Tree of Mayana and the Mayana landslide. For spelunking, we could offer the Carmoloan Caves said to be the second deepest cave in the Philippines and the Ka Iyang Cave. If a tourist is interested in a religious tour, he may be asked to see the Pedro Calungsod shrine or the Birhen sa Barangay Shrine in Ilihan or the Jagna Catholic Church. If he prefers history, he may go to the Lonoy Heroes Marker and if he wants anthropology, he may visit some burial sites in Canupao, Cantaghay or Tubod Monte.

Jagna has plenty to offer and it may take a day or more to explore them. However, amenities are inadequate. Only Dominecao in Pangdan and the Garder Café in Tejero or is it Poblacion that could offer lodgings. The Du Que Chiong may do. If the Sky Garden will build more cottages, they may absorb those who prefer a scenic view of the hills. But alas, the accommodations industry is a touch and go enterprise. A full compliment personnel needed for efficient operations during the tourism period cannot be maintained during the slack. During our stint as consultant of ECOTECH in Suldon, Cebu City , we noticed that a Master in Quantitative Management is needed for efficient operations of a convention and seminar center.

Jagna has also to decide to which type of tourist to cater. Unless those mentioned destination are enhanced to compete with the highly advertised destinations like Panglao, Mactan or Palawan , we do not have a chance for international tourists. We might be able to convince European backpackers, those who like life on the rough, to include our place in their itinerary, a passing place to and from Camiguin resorts but the only afford slim pickings. The best therefore is to cater to local tourists particularly the expats. They have more money that the backpackers and we could appeal to them to help us out in our development projects.