WITH the temporary closure of Boracay Island for rehabilitation, Bacolod City gets a tourism boost with the recommendation of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas to also visit other “must-experience” tourist destinations in Western Visayas.
While tourists are not allowed to visit Boracay at this time, the DOT-6 recommended eight tourist destinations each for the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, and Iloilo, and the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo.
The Bacolod City Government Center, widely known as “NGC,” was listed on top of the recommended places in Bacolod, followed by Negros Museum, Negros Forest Ecological and Biodiversity Foundation, Bacolod Public Plaza and Bandstand, San Sebastian Cathedral and Bishop Palace, Barangay sang Birhen Chapel, Panaad Park and Stadium, and Pope John Paul II Tower.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia was upbeat with the development.
“It strengthened the image of NGC as an icon of Bacolod and validates its reputation as a tourist destination. And with the regular big crowds in the NGC esplanade, we have good reasons to believe that it is the most photographed City Hall in the country today,” Leonardia said.
Now we can say that “you have not been to Bacolod if you have not have been to NGC,” the mayor said.
The DOT in Western Visayas published a tourist advisory recently, announcing the closure of Boracay Island for rehabilitation effective April 26, and recommended other “must-experience” tourist destinations in the region.
Councilor Em Ang, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Tourism, said, “while it is unfortunate that Boracay has to be totally closed for several months to undergo serious rehabilitation, it is the task of the neighboring localities to attract the would-be Boracay visitors and to show that the other towns and cities are just as worthy of their visit.”
“It is a good opportunity to highlight and showcase the other beautiful destinations in our region, including Bacolod. While we may not have Boracay’s white sand beaches, Bacolod is one of the country’s best places to visit for a heritage, art, culture and food trip. (PR)