Norwegian missionary promotes Camiguin as eco-tourist spot
12/06/2011
NORWAY - It's all in a day's work for Norwegian missionary Wenche Thorkildsen, director of Sea and Sun Ministries International (SSMI), Inc.
Barely a few days back from the Philippines, she spoke at the Drammen Library Scene last November 30 giving a passionate appeal to her fellow Norwegians to travel to Camiguin Island in the Philippines. Eco-tourism mission
Thorkildsen said her mission is to get everyone to put Camiguin on their "blue list," or as she describes it "the list of places one must go to before one dies."
Gushing about the country's beauty, she said she did not choose the Philippines as a site of her mission, but it was chosen for her by God.
"I am very happy that I am there. I think the Philippines is a wonderful country, and especially, Camiguin island where we are which is a beautiful, beautiful island," she said.
Showing photos of the beautiful spots in the Camiguin like a seasoned tourism official, Thorkildsen promised the island is worth the visit.
She emphasized that she is promoting "ecotourism," following the principles as outlined by the International Ecotourism Society. This involves "responsible tourism in nature-rich areas" and "taking care of the environment and improving the local community."
SSMI achievements
Thorkildsen also presented her ministry's charity works in the island for the the past ten years.
SSMI rents out apartments to tourist families during their stay in Camiguin. Profits are used to fund its various projects in the island which includes an orphanage, scholarship programs and medical and health missions.
SSMI's biggest achievement, she said, is being able to send 1,000 poor students to school, including 18 students in college, 34 in high school, as well as support for two elementary schools in the area.
Bigger dreams
But she has even bigger dreams for the project in the future, such as opening a bigger restaurant and cafe for the guests, acquiring a landholding for distribution to farmers to plant coffee and adding more apartments to rent out to tourists.
All these plans, she noted however, can only be possible if she can convince more Norwegians to make Camiguin a destination for their holidays.
Norwegian travellers
Hundreds of thousands of cash-rich Norwegian families travel abroad annually in search of exotic and warmer destinations during their holidays, courtesy of an employment regulation that allocates a certain amount of the annual pay to "feriepenger" or vacation money.
A travel industry study showed Norwegians use half of their vacation money to travel overseas.
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Thorkildsen said her mission is to get everyone to put Camiguin on their "blue list," or as she describes it "the list of places one must go to before one dies."
Gushing about the country's beauty, she said she did not choose the Philippines as a site of her mission, but it was chosen for her by God.
"I am very happy that I am there. I think the Philippines is a wonderful country, and especially, Camiguin island where we are which is a beautiful, beautiful island," she said.
Showing photos of the beautiful spots in the Camiguin like a seasoned tourism official, Thorkildsen promised the island is worth the visit.
She emphasized that she is promoting "ecotourism," following the principles as outlined by the International Ecotourism Society. This involves "responsible tourism in nature-rich areas" and "taking care of the environment and improving the local community."
SSMI achievements
Thorkildsen also presented her ministry's charity works in the island for the the past ten years.
SSMI rents out apartments to tourist families during their stay in Camiguin. Profits are used to fund its various projects in the island which includes an orphanage, scholarship programs and medical and health missions.
SSMI's biggest achievement, she said, is being able to send 1,000 poor students to school, including 18 students in college, 34 in high school, as well as support for two elementary schools in the area.
Bigger dreams
But she has even bigger dreams for the project in the future, such as opening a bigger restaurant and cafe for the guests, acquiring a landholding for distribution to farmers to plant coffee and adding more apartments to rent out to tourists.
All these plans, she noted however, can only be possible if she can convince more Norwegians to make Camiguin a destination for their holidays.
Norwegian travellers
Hundreds of thousands of cash-rich Norwegian families travel abroad annually in search of exotic and warmer destinations during their holidays, courtesy of an employment regulation that allocates a certain amount of the annual pay to "feriepenger" or vacation money.
A travel industry study showed Norwegians use half of their vacation money to travel overseas.
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