DUE TO the effects left by Typhoon Ompong, La Trinidad will be postponing its first Tourism Week originally slated September 24 to 29 which aims to promote culture and boost tourism services in the valley.
The tourism week also aims to increase tourists’ arrival with 550,000 to 800,000 visiting the country’s strawberry capital for the past three years and is considered as one of the most visited town in the Cordillera region.
The event will be conducted at the municipal gym with lined-up activities. The five-day program will include tourism products and services, display of tourism photos and art exhibits.
Cooperative Development Officer Orlando Pacya said the activity also aims to promote the local goods of the valley and develop the skills of the locals on the tourism products.
The first day will be allotted for local products and services related to tourism.
Pacya said micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs were invited which have contributed 95 percent to the town’s economy.
A seminar will also be conducted in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology which will focus on product development, standards in packaging and labeling and requirements from monitoring agencies to critic and invite online business marketing.
“Aside from the face to face consultation with their consumers, they can also use social media,” he added.
The supposed weeklong event coincides with the celebration of World Tourism Day with the theme “Tourism and the digital transformation.”
At present, Municipal Tourism Officer Valred Olsim said they are conducting a study on the economic impact of tourism in the town.
An awarding of best tourism oriented barangay and businesses, a concert, fashion show and exhibits will also be held.
To promote eco-tourism and environmental preservation, an Eco-Kulturamazing Race will be held including an environmental forum with the youth and the whole stakeholders of the valley eyed as participants.
La Trinidad recently identified tourism as a driver of economic development following the local council’s enactment of measures institutionalizing the celebration of coffee festival, strawberry festival and farm tourism.
A Tourism Act was also approved in 2009 which seeks to sustain tourism developments in having an avenue to appreciate and promote the local tourism sites and products and for the community to be updated of the new tourism system.