Improvements Lined Up For Samar’s Sohoton National Park

More improvements are now on the pipeline for the Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge National Park in this town in the bid to draw more tourists.

Basey Tourism Officer Evangeline Ritaga said they are highly considering the recommendation of the Tourism Promotions Board officials who toured the park last year.

Experts found that the site is very attractive to tourists, but its amenities and available services is not yet ready for international market.

The local government unit and the Department of Tourism will take the lead in the improvement projects.

Part of the development that will be done to give better services to visiting tourists is the improvement of tour guiding and food handling services, according to Ritaga.

“The local government unit has made some initiatives, but we are limited with funding constraints,” Ritaga said.

Ritaga noted that since the Samar provincial government initiated the Spark Samar campaign, tourist arrivals in Sohoton went up to 3,259 in 2015 from 865 in 2014.

“We are very thankful to Governor Sharee Ann Tan for doing the campaign but of course this will not be a success without the help of other government agencies like the Department of Tourism and the private sector that had started to come to us to offer help in the promotion of Sohoton,” Ritaga added.

The increase of tourist arrival in Sohoton is attributed by DOT Regional Director Karian Rosa Tiopes to proper coordination between tourism stakeholders.

“This is what happens when provincial and town governments, national line agencies, private sector and communities converge, act together, dedicate time and effort and work for a shared goal to make tourism happen,” said Tiopes.

Last January, ABS-CBN Foundation opened an eco-lodge for tourists who will stay overnight near the natural park.

“The challenge now is for the local organization, Basey local government and residents to enhance the quality service, preservation of natural resources, practice good values to sustain the momentum and increase the arrivals and earnings,” Tiopes added.

Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge National Park are located within the Samar Island Natural Park, one of the top tourist destination in this province.

Sohoton Cave can be reached from Tacloban through a 45-minute drive passing through the picturesque San Juanico Bridge. A boat would take visitors from the take off point in Guirang village to the cave. (PNA) FFC/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR