KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/23 Aug) – The province of South Cotabato has collected a total of P2.6 million in revenues during the last seven months from zipline operators at the scenic Seven Falls in Lake Sebu municipality, records of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office show.
Cesar Sulit Jr., senior tourism operations officer, cited the 15-percent increase or P382,000 zipline revenue compare to the same period of last year’s operation.
The province’s zipline industry has an average increase of 10,000 tourist arrivals every quarter, he added.
The operation started in 2009 with P61,000 proceeds but Sulit beamed that revenue collection is increasing every year. In 2010, proceeds reached almost P3 million. In 2011, the treasurer’s office confirmed a revenue of P4 million.
Hoping for a vigorous tourism activity this year, particularly for the ziplines, Sulit is hopeful the collection this year will be more than last year’s.
South Cotabato offers twin ziplines that connect the seven waterfalls.
Aside from the zipline extreme adventure, tourists will also experience new offerings such as bungee jumping, zorbing and horseback riding, Sulit said.
He said that Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. has already conducted initial talks with possible investors for the P5-million cable car operation.
With continuous improvements at the Seven Falls area, Sulit disclosed the establishment of a three-hectare parking area, a club house and numerous stalls to accommodate businessmen.
Development of the Seven Falls area is an Asian Development Bank priority project and an ecotourism project area for the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) regional economic cluster. (MindaNews)