THIS is just a “cute” reaction to the statement of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino who said that there is big chance for Bacolod to be a tourist destination in the country.
Probably, he is just challenging Bacolod and its private sector to be more “aggressive” in tourism. Whatever that means, only Dino can explain best. This may sound a bit of fun because many of us in the tourism industry believe that Bacolod is already a tourist destination.
Bacolod City is the capital of Negros Occidental. Negros Occidental is a “harvester” of tourism awards in the regional and national levels.
Bacolod has its own tourist attractions other than what we have in component cities and towns. The hotels and big restaurants are here. The convention center is here (and will have more). The shopping establishments are like mushrooms. Bacolod has been hosting national, international conventions and many big events. Masskara festival and other festivals are crowd drawers. That simply proves that Bacolod is a tourist destination.
Our capital city has many national awards attached to its name especially under the Bing Leonardia administration. Past mayors like Mayor Joy, Mayor Monico worked so hard also in their own style to promote and market Bacolod tourism. Mayor Bing is trying to have some more because he knows more being a former Department of Tourism (DOT) executive.
Probably, someone from Bacolod has to tell Dino that Bacolod is almost there as far as tourism is concerned. Our dynamic provincial tourism officer Tintin Mansinares has acknowledged several times that the big number of tourist arrival in Bacolod has contributed a lot to the total number of tourist arrival of Negros Occidental.
Our tour operators and tour guides in Bacolod can attest to that because day in and day out they are welcoming and sending off local and foreign tourists. We have a number to back up that Bacolod is a tourist destination. Mayor Bing knows that because I also bring Silay visitors in Bacolod.
The Honorable Dino could also be correct in challenging Bacolod to have more in its tourism program. “Build, build, build” should not be for infrastructure projects only. It could be applied in tourism’s several shapes and forms, more excellent tourism frontliners, no flooded streets, no traffic congestion, no heavy sidewalk, no market in the middle of the street, very peaceful barangays, drug-free barangays and no corrupt government employees.
The presidential assistant could be whistling along that line and it carries weight. Bacolod is not just for the Bacolodnons but for all the Negrosanons. We are sending our children to Bacolod colleges and universities. We are buying things in Bacolod and we want to see always the tourism face of Bacolod with less crime. We want to view our policemen while they serve and protect. We want to see our Bacolod tourist policemen as efficient enforcers of the law belonging to the new species.
To the top pillars of Bacolod tourism, “As I See It” wants to see that you also join and harvest awards in the ‘Pearl Awards’ sponsored by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and the DOT. The Province of Negros Occidental, Silay City, Sagay City, Sipalay City, Cadiz City have harvested a lot. Even Salvador Benedicto and Pulupandan have their share of the harvest. Can we expect from Bacolod?
Bacolod has more resources, more manpower, more connections, more bright guys, and strong business sector. Let us prove to Honorable Dino that he is right because Bacolod can still do more. We expect Bacolod to be a “big harvester” in the 2018 Pearl Awards to be held in General Santos in Mindanao.
Again in 2018, Bacolod is one among the “most livable urban centers in the country.” The “City of Smiles” was adjudged first runner-up (after Davao City).
Bacolod, go for ATOP Pearl Awards! You are a tourist destination.