What amazes me is how this country has risen from its rubble and built itself to what it is now — a destination which attracts tourists, literally, from all over the world.

Last week, lawyers of my firm and I took a breather in the Balkan countries of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our tour guides in some cities informed us they rely mainly on tourism.

Just to refresh your memory, not so long ago, in 1992 more particularly, Bosnia and Herzegovina was besieged by Serbia and Croatia. The Bosnian war was marked by the infamous Srebrenica massacre, where 8,000 Bosniaks perished in the hands of the Serbs.

Our guides in Mostar and Sarajevo (both cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina) described the dire times they endured in that period. Their country was utterly devastated. There was no escape.

Crossing borders meant going to enemy territory. Bosniaks being trapped in Sarajevo resorted to an ingenious way of hiding from the enemy; thus, the Tunel Spasa (Tunnel of Life), which runs underneath the Sarajevo airport. Back then, the airport was protected by United Nations forces. Attacking the tunnel meant facing the UN forces. And that gave Bosniaks the much-needed protection.

Now, Tunel Spasa is a war memorial. The house, riddled with bullets, leading to the tunnel’s entrance still stands. The Sacred Heart Cathedral likewise in Sarajevo was not spared. Bullet holes created during the war can be seen prominently on its walls. As you wander around, you see a few buildings preserved in their war-ravaged state. All these are a grim reminder of the country’s tumultuous past.

But what amazes me is how this country has risen from its rubble and built itself to what it is now — a destination which attracts tourists, literally, from all over the world. In fact, both in Sarajevo and Mostar, there were many other tour groups with us. Their respective guides spoke — Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and other languages — which the tourists only understood. The number of curious visitors was astounding. And are you not surprised? This is Bosnia & Herzegovina, a place that you would think is less visited. Indeed, a country’s history and beauty can be a magnet for tourists.

That brings me to the Philippines. Our very own native land is one whole world-class tourist destination. During my previous travels abroad, I would get slighted when others would ask if there were malls or even buildings in the Philippines. They thought that the entire country was primitive, being dotted merely with nipa huts. Worse, some did not even know where our country is.

And every time I was asked, I would proudly say that our country has everything they looked for, from modern to historical sites; from man-made to natural wonders. We have the biggest upscale malls. We have a nightlife, which offers most memorable experiences.

And being a peninsula; beaches abound. When compared to beaches in other countries, the latter pale in comparison to ours. I can personally attest to that. I once thought that other exotic beach destinations in Asia had beaches more pristine than ours. I am so proud to say that, after experiencing the beaches outside our country, our Boracay, Bohol and Palawan are far better and truly world-class. And history — ours is rich and very interesting. So, our country has everything to make a tourist feel paradise.

That is why I laud the inking in August 2019 of several laws declaring four tourist destinations in Luzon. These are Mount Bulaylay, located in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija (Republic Act 11406), Candon City (RA 11407), Santiago Cove (RA 11408) and the Pinsal Falls (RA 11409), the last three are all in Ilocos Sur. These laws task the tourist destinations’ respective local government units, in close coordination with the Department of Tourism, to implement a plan to encourage tourism to these sites. This includes developing them and their infrastructure and adopting measures to ensure the safety and welfare of tourists.

Imagine when these tourist attractions are fully developed and operational, they will add to the already many tourist gems of our country. And again, this translates to attracting more tourists, both local and foreign. The result will be a much healthier economy for our country. Imagine the jobs tourism will generate. Add to that the influx of income from visitors. Before we know it, our country will already be a top tourist destination of the world.

I am certain we can achieve that. We have attractions far better than other countries. If other countries rely on their tourism, so can we definitely. I have been to a number of countries. And with head up high, I can tell the whole world that the Philippines is one tourist jewel of Asia, if not the world.