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By LYNDA B. VALENCIA
July 2, 2010 MANILA — The ‘Big 3’ birdwatching tour operators from the United States (US) recently rated the country ‘excellent’ as a birdwatching destination for its variety of endemic birds and accessible trails.
Wings Birding Tours, VENT (Victor Emmanuel Nature Tours) and Field Guides are considered the top three birdwatching tour specialists in the US.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) together with the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) invited the birding operators to the country’s popular aviary sanctuaries which included Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna; the Nabasan Trail in Subic; Villa Escudero in Quezon; Chocolate Hills, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape and Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Bohol; Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary and Tabunan Forest in Cebu; Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Sabang Beach, Mangrove Forest and Lion’s Cave in Palawan.
The 10-man group of hardcore bird enthusiasts mentioned rare sightings of the Indigo-Banded Kingfisher and Pygmy Flowerpicker in the areas they visited.
The entire party was composed of Richard Webster, Senior Field Guides Leader of Field Guides; Gavin Bieber, Senior Field Leader of Wings Birding Tours; David Wolf, Cofounder and Director of VENT (Victor Emmanuel Nature Tours); Robert Schutsky, Owner and Operator of Bird Treks; Simon Thompson; President/Owner of Venture Birding Tours; Adrian Binns, Senior Leader of Wildside Nature Tours; Hector Gomez de Silva Graza, General Manager of Eagle- Eye Tours; Ana Daza, General Manager of Tropical Birding Tours, William Robert Maynard, Editor of Winging It; and Melvin White, Travel Writer of National Geo Traveler and Living Bird Magazine.
“While birding in the Philippines is still a challenge, seeing around 309 exotic species in 10 days is indeed remarkable,” said Webster of Field Guides. Wolf was impressed to discover, on his own, exceptional spots in Metro Manila itself, such as Palay-Palay Mangrove Reserve in Mall of Asia and the University of the Philippines Diliman campus.
Bieber said that the transportation and road networks leading to the sanctuaries were of “high quality, making their travel easier.” “We hope that birdwatching will be sustained and further developed by the incoming administration with the groundwork already laid down and the market secured,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano. According to the study, Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economics Analysis, there are an estimated 18 million birdwatchers in the US alone, with birdwatching becoming one of the world’s fastest growing recreational activities.
In view of the fact that one-third or 200 of the bird species in the Philippines is endemic, birdwatching has been launched by the DOT to boost arrivals from a highincome tourism segment. Durano added that, “Apart from the significant exposure and promotion we could gain, these familiarization tours allow us obtain valuable insight from comprehensive assessments submitted by these field experts.”
The participants revealed in their post assessment that the Philippines is an important site for birdwatching, in terms of the number of rare and endemic species, safety, cultural climate, local bird guide expertise, transportation and road networks. The quality of accommodations and food like The participants revealed in their post assessment that the Philippines is an important site for birdwatching, in terms of the number of rare and endemic species, safety, cultural climate, local bird guide expertise, transportation and road networks. The quality of accommodations and food likewise exceeded their expectations.
Filipino bird guides Nicky Icarangal and Adrian Constanino who accompanied the group were also commended for their extensive knowledge of Philippine endemic birds. The party further suggested the months of January to March as the best time to bring clients to the country for a pleasant weather.
“Birdwatching is admittedly in its fledgling stage in the country that’s why we enjoin our partner stakeholders to support one of our biggest tourism revenue generators,” added Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr.
The potential birdwatching market most likely travels in groups of 10 persons, stays for 18-23 days and spends a minimum of US$ 6,000-7,000 excluding airfare, Jarque added. DOT-Chicago is working closely together with its head office to tap the burgeoning market from the US.
DOT North America Team Head and Director Corazon Jorda-Apo shared, “Part of the long-term strategy of the DOT for birdwatching includes intensive manpower training for local bird guides and forest rangers. At present we are in the process of selecting top seven birding destinations which will be the focus of product development and marketing efforts.”
Supporting the DOT and PCVC in its program were CCT 168 Travel and Tours, Hotel Intercontinental Manila, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, DOT Region 7, Puerto Princesa local government, Maribago Blue Waters Resort, Kaishu Restaurant and Hilton Cebu.