THE Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas is set to inspect one of the two cruise tourism circuits in Negros Occidental this week, an agency official said Monday, July 16.
DOT-Western Visayas Regional Administrative Officer Artemio Ticar, designated tourism area development head for Negros Occidental, said the regional line agency will conduct the inspection for Bacolod-Sipaway-San Carlos circuit on July 19 to 20.
The activity will be led by DOT-Western Visayas Director Helen Catalbas along with Tourism Development Area Managers, tour operators, tour guides, media, and social media influencers.
Representatives of various concerned agencies including the Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, as well as Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines are also joining the two-day inspection.
Ticar said it is mainly aimed at checking whether the circuit is ready to cater to tourists.
“Through the inspection, we can also be able to identify the areas that need improvement,” he said, adding that “recommendations on how to address these deficiencies can also be crafted.”
DOT Region 6 has been pushing for the development of Western Visayas as a cruise tourism destination.
Aside from Boracay Island in Aklan, the region has not yet fully tapped other potential cruise tourism destinations in the region.
Currently, the regional line agency has identified six cruise circuits in Western Visayas.
These include the Northern Antique, Roxas-Capiz, Northern Iloilo, Iloilo-Guimaras, Bacolod-Sipaway-San Carlos, and Bacolod-Sipalay circuits.
The inspections for the first four circuits were already conducted earlier this year. The itinerary for the Bacolod-Sipalay circuit has yet to be made.
Ticar said the region will initially push for small-scale cruise tourism by utilizing boats with 250 tourists in capacity.
“Based on our inspections with other circuits, our itineraries are already ready to sell. We only need to do minor improvements,” Ticar said, adding that cruise tourism operation in the region is targeted to start by last quarter of this year.
Generally, the cruise tourism package includes visits to different tourism destinations in every circuit chosen by the tourists.
“Meaning, they will not just stay on the ship. Tourists will really have to ride via land transportation vehicle and have a first-hand experience of our offerings,” he also said.
For Bacolod-Sipaway-San Carlos circuit, the itinerary for the inspection will start from Bredco Port in Bacolod City to The Ruins in Talisay City.
Other destinations for the first day include Museo Pambata, Suyac Island, and Carbin Reef in Sagay City.
Ticar said the port in the northern Negros Occidental city will also be inspected to check whether it has the capacity to cater to a group of 250 tourists.
Also, there will be a visit to the monkey sanctuary in Calatrava town before proceeding to San Carlos City for a dinner and critiquing session.
“The critiquing is designed for us to discuss our observations particularly on the areas that need improvement,” Ticar said.
On the second day, the team will conduct the inspection in Sipaway Island, still in San Carlos City.
It will include demonstrations on how products there are being produced, and interactions with the residents on various topics like fishing as their livelihood, he added.