Bacolod gets P1B from tourism

BACOLOD CITY-- Mayor Evelio Leonardia said tourist arrivals in Bacolod City translated into receipts showed an estimated gross income of P1.045 billion.

Bacolod has become a favorite tourism destination for foreign and domestic visitors. In 2009, about 358,159 visitors arrived in Bacolod City as against the 335,809 in 2008, which means an increase of 22,358 or 6.7 percent.

The mayor said foreign tourists increased from 52,863 to 74,453; the difference is 21,890 or 41 percent. The Koreans, he said, still topped the number with a total of 39,596.

Leonardia said tourism has become a potent industry for the city. The rapid increase in the accommodation business alone is reflective of defining tourism for future investment consideration.

In 2009 alone, 303 rooms were added to the existing 2,336 rooms, making a total of 2,639 which is around 70 percent of the total 3,806 rooms in Negros Occidental, said Leonardia.

On the city's tourism promotion efforts, he said: "I am very happy to inform you that we are now in the final stages of preparation for sisterhood with Iloilo City.”

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog already announced the cities' linkage during the 2010 Palladium Asia Pacific Summit, Leonardia added.

He added that imitation is the best form of flattery as 22 local government units visited Bacolod for their Lakbay Aral activities. “This means they want to learn from us and perhaps even copy our best practices.” (Carla N. Cañet)