• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The province of Negros Oriental logged a 164.08 percent growth in its tourist arrivals in the first quarter of this year, and will focus on tourism destination marketing and packaging to further boost its tourism industry.
The National Economic and Development Authority Region 7, in its Q1 regional economic situationer released July 25, said that Negros Oriental logged 147,838 visitor arrivals in the first three months of this year, from 55,983 in the same period last year.
It will focus on its “No destination left behind”, target and will engage with national tourism organizations, market Valencia town as the “Wedding Destination of Negros Oriental”, and purchase a 25-seater boat for dolphin-watching activities in Vallehermoso town, the NEDA7 said.
Negros Oriental is also developing a tour package, dubbed the Two Festivals in One Trip, that will allow visitors to witness both the Buglasan Festival of the province, and the MassKara Festival of Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, in just one trip.
Both festivals are held every October.
The Department of Tourism, meanwhile, held training activities during the period to level up the skills of industry players. These include the Integrated Top Cop seminar, and skills training for canyoneering and diving guides.
It also tackled general destination knowledge, the Filipino brand of service excellence, risk management, tour guiding ethics, basic communication and touchpoints, overview on tourism, and the region’s tourism circuits, and practical simulations, the NEDA added. | CGC
