THE new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas will push for sustainable tourism model in the region including Negros Occidental.
Cristine Mansinares, who was designated officer-in-charge of DOT-Western Visayas by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in a Department Order dated March 26, said she will prioritize the development of Slow Food Travel.
Mansinares said the regional line agency will work on developing connections among small-scale farmers, cooperatives and businesses.
"These will be done while raising awareness among visitors about the importance of preserving biodiversity, championing farm and organic agriculture tourism, cultural heritage promotion and local gastronomy, among others," she added.
Mansinares, who is the concurrent chief tourism operations officer of DOT-Western Visayas, succeeded former regional director Helen Catalbas.
Catalbas' second term extension ended on April 16, 2021. She served the regional line agency for 44 years.
Mansinares said she is continuing Catalbas' program centered on growing the local tourism economy and finding new opportunities to restart tourism through the "Safely Experience Western Visayas First" campaign.
Mansinares that the rehabilitation and recovery of the tourism industry are major challenges she has to deal with, along with key industry stakeholders, in light of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.
"The pandemic calls us to be resilient and innovative as we slowly reopen the tourism sector in the region," she said.
Mansinares, who hails from Sagay City in Negros Occidental, will bring to the DOT her 15 years of extensive experience in the industry as a tourism officer.
Prior to her assignment in 2020 in DOT-Western Visayas, Mansinares served as the provincial tourism officer of Negros Occidental.
She also led in steering the Sipalay City tourism sector when she was the local government unit's tourism executive.
The southern Negros Occidental locality is a popular destination for divers, eco-watchers and beach lovers for its white sand resorts and other natural attractions.
"I have big shoes to fill," Mansinares said, adding that her experience working in a cross-cultural environment has widened her perspectives on how tourism significantly impacts human and economic development.
DOT-Western Visayas, in a statement, said like her predecessor, Mansinares was also an academic achiever.
She received her bachelor's degree in tourism from Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod where she graduated magna cum laude and class valedictorian in 2005.
Mansinares completed her Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of San Agustin-Iloilo in 2008.
In the same year, she finished a short course on Tourism Promotion and Marketing at the Tokyo International Center under the Japan International Cooperation Agency grant.
In 2015, she completed her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos in Bacolod City.