THE Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is stepping up its effort to boost inter-regional tourism positioned to positively impact provinces in the country including Negros Occidental.
TPB chief operating officer Marie Venus Tan, at the sidelines of the opening rites for the 3rd Regional Travel Fair at SM City Bacolod on Friday, October 26, said the opening of more airports results in additional flights thereby giving the public more options to travel.
Tan cited that Negros Occidental, for instance, having direct flights to Clark in Pampanga has been giving an opportunity for the Visayas to look at the northern Philippines and vice versa.
“Being the second most visited place by domestic tourists, the province really has the potential also because of its infrastructure connectivity,” she said, stressing that “once intra-regional tourism traffic increases, Negros Occidental will surely get a fair share.”
The two-day travel fair hosted by Bacolod City will run until today, October 27. The first and second leg were held in cities of Legazpi and Davao in May and August this year, respectively.
For this leg, the TPB gathered at least 55 sellers and 35 buyers from the travel trade sector, government agencies and local government units (LGUs) in the country.
They are engaging in various activities including business to business session and consumer expo.
These activities showcase best deals in domestic tour packages offered by invited tour operators, travel agents, domestic hotels and resorts, destination management companies and domestic airlines from Luzon and Mindanao.
Tan said this inter-regional initiative they are doing is showcasing not only the host region or province but also provides an opportunity for other regions to come here to sell what is in the outside.
Travel agents are also given the chance to look at new destinations to sell, Tan said.
“This is really promoting local destinations as local travel agencies can look at other options for them to sell,” she said, adding that for Bacolod City alone, there are lots of good destinations to offer.
In the bid to further boost the local tourism industry, the agency also recognized the need for the enhancement of tourism products.
Like in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, Tan said the province already has the products that all it needs now is to enhance it.
Tan said she met some local officials, who then talked about developing potential communities around the province.
“I am also encouraging Bacolod City to have its convention center as it is important in inviting more meetings and conventions here,” she said, adding that “you have to create demand so infrastructure will come.”
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who was also present at the activity, took pride in the MassKara Festival especially in attracting local and foreign tourists.
Leonardia said Bacolod being chosen as the venue of the Regional Travel Fair shows the city’s role in the overall dynamics of the tourism industry in the Philippines.
“Domestic tourism is a very important force that was proven to be a major contributor to the economy,” he said, adding that as tourism is seen to become the biggest industry in the world, “Bacolod must be one of the major players thus, we are doing all these initiatives.”