ABANSE Turismo Negrense! Yes, we are still under the reign of Covid-19 but tourism in Negros is right there in the battlefront fighting to flatten the curve. Dr. Jenny Cordero of the Negros Occidental Tourism Office has come up with the "Search for Best Tourism Office."
This is a wake-up call for all mayors and tourism officers to check the readiness of their tourism office despite of the trending pandemic. A tourism office should not hibernate just because there is a health crisis. The tourism officer should be at the side of the mayor to accommodate the incoming locally stranded individuals and to give a warm welcome based on protocols to our struggling heroes, the overseas Filipino workers.
The contest criteria cover the eight important aspects included in the functions of the tourism office. There should be a documentation showcasing a usual day in the office with the tourism staff in personal protective equipment uniform. The office set up should include the new normal tourism health and safety protocols. Strict enforcement should be done because the "Laton-laton Festival" is on in offices and even in schools. Here, we will test the creativity and resourcefulness of the tourism officer.
The history of the tourism office should be visually manifested. The tourism office should be the show window of any town or city. The creation of the office could have been based on the existing laws and it would tell a story on how the local government unit consolidate its resources to create a budget for the office and collate intelligent and resourceful employees to manage the office. Only committed and dedicated employees deserve the tourism office.
The participating LGUs should have a tourism code. A tourism code recognizes the important dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the alleviation of poverty and the improvement of the quality of life of the people while safeguarding the natural environment to satisfy equitably the needs and aspirations of the present and future generations.
There should be a tourism development plan. The goal of tourism development is to increase the attractiveness of a destination to attract more tourists. The basis of tourism development is represented by a tourism master plan which depicts the potential for development on the fundament of an extensive situation analysis.
One factor to be considered in judging could be the activities and program initiated, implemented or sponsored by the tourism office...charter day anniversary, town fiesta, tourism month celebration, Christmas village presentation, sporting events, mangrove rehabilitation project, cultural research, tourism frontliners training, among others.
Tourism statistics report for the past three years would be in focus. The statistical data include the records of the tourist arrival and the number of days spent by the tourists in hotels, also the influx of the excursionists in your town or city. This is important for DOT marketing strategy and also for the giving of grants and projects from funding agencies.
Coordination and proper linkage play a vital role in tourism program implementation. Dr. Cordero wants to know the charisma of tourism officers in connecting to private and government agencies to avail of any tourism-related grant. If the tourism officers know how, there are attractive grants from the NCCA, PEZA, JICA and Ford Foundation. It only needs brainwork and perseverance.
Last in the criteria is the virtual presentation of pictures to prove the existence of programs and activities. Photographs should be accompanied with proper captions so that the judges will understand better the event.
Again, congratulations to the mayors and tourism officers who participated in this big bang tourism contest of the year, the "Search for the Best Tourism Office." Congratulations Dr. Jenny Cordero and BM Araceli Somosa, chairperson of the Committee on Tourism, for your fruitful partnership. Cheers for Tourism Month Celebration!