TACLOBAN CITY— The municipal government of Tabango is seeking to establish Kimud Shoal as a major dive tourism destination under its jurisdiction, as it works to attract visitors and generate more local economic benefits from the area’s famed thresher sharks.
Mayor Ma. Corazon Remandaban said the municipality wants to promote Kimud Shoal as part of Tabango and correct the long-standing perception that the dive site is associated with Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan, Cebu.
For years, tourism activities around the shoal have generated income largely for dive operators based in Malapascua, she said.
Remandaban said the issue had already been raised by her husband, Vice Mayor Benjo Remandaban, during discussions with officials of Daanbantayan even before she became mayor. Among the concerns discussed was the collection of environmental fees from tourists visiting Kimud Shoal.
She said environmental fees collected from visitors had previously gone entirely to the local government of Daanbantayan.
Kimud Shoal is known as a cleaning station for thresher sharks, which are attracted to the area by small fish that help remove parasites and other debris from their bodies.
Thresher sharks are distinguished by their exceptionally long tails, which can account for nearly half of their total body length and are used to stun prey.
Remandaban said Tabango still has work to do to develop its own tourism industry, particularly because licensed divers and operators currently serving the area are largely based in Malapascua.
“That is our target now for tourism. However, we still have many things to do because many of our licensed divers are from Malapascua. But we partner and collaborate with them,” she said.
Rather than displacing existing dive operators, the mayor said the municipality intends to work with them while gradually developing Tabango’s capacity to accommodate tourists.
As part of its tourism development efforts, the municipal government has also sought assistance from the Philippine Ports Authority to improve Tabango’s port facilities.
Remandaban said the municipality hopes to upgrade the port so larger vessels carrying tourists can dock directly in Tabango, making the town more accessible to visitors.
The local government believes improved port facilities, stronger partnerships with dive operators and the promotion of Kimud Shoal can help increase tourist arrivals while ensuring that more of the economic benefits from the marine attraction reach Tabango.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
