ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — Eco-tourism spots in Western Visayas are urged to become tourism enterprise zones.

According to Atty. Helen Catalbas, assistant regional director of Department of Tourism (DoT 6), eco-tourism spots are the ones that should avail of tourism incentives under Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.

“These are the places that would benefit the most from (said) incentives,” Catalbas said.

Officials of the Tourism Enterprise Zones and Administration of Incentives (TIEZA), formerly known as Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), were recently in Iloilo as part of a nationwide campaign to attract private investors in venturing into tourism-related industries.

Atty. Joy Bulauitan, TIEZA deputy general manager for administration, noted that the program intends to jumpstart potential tourist destinations.

TIEZA can designate an area as a tourism enterprise zone if it has “historical and cultural significance, environmental beauty, or existing or potential integrated leisure facilities; strategic access through transportation infrastructure, and reasonable connection with utilities infrastructure systems; a strategic location such as to catalyze the socioeconomic development of neighboring communities.”

Bulauitan said even the country’s premiere tourist destination, Boracay can apply for TEZ accreditation.

Catalbas stressed that identified eco-tourism sites should avail of tourism incentives to boost the influx of tourists and spur the local economy.

She identified northern and southern Iloilo with their pristine beach destinations as well as central Iloilo towns Leon and Janiuay for its inland resorts as potential tourism enterprise zones.