BACOLOD City Administrator and former Tourism attache to Japan and United States Atty. John N. Orola, Jr. said that symposium on tourism will be held on June 17 at the Masskara Hall of the Bacolod City Government Center.
The symposium is part of the weeklong “Ang Mga Adlaw Sang Paghanduraw” from June 12 to 19, he said.
He invited Tourism Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz and Tourism Regional Director Helen Katalbas, as well as representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Bureau of Immigration, to the symposium.
They hope to discuss the customs immigration and quarantine (CIQ) processing centers for the operation and landing of direct international flight at the Bacolod-Silay Airport, he said.
Orola said they are also trying to confirm the availability of Tourism Assistant Secretary Baba Jasmin.
President Benigno Aquino III had directed the Departments of Transportation and Communication, Bureau of Immigration and other concerned agencies to install CIQ processing centers for the operation and handling of direct international flights of seven airports in the country. The Bacolod-Silay Airport is one of them.
The President had instructed the agencies concerned to establish CIQ processing centers that will process new and incoming tourists in the Bacolod-Silay Airport and the airports of Puerto Princesa, Laguindingan, Tagbilaran, Legazpi, Iloilo and Kalibo.
The tourism symposium titled “The Emerging Industry in Bacolod City” will be divided into two parts – “Tourism as a Transformational Tool for Community Development” and ”Bacolod City as a Prime Destination.”
Meanwhile, Orola said the launching of the tour of Bacolod’s icons/landmarks on Thursday is a new innovation and will present emerging tourism destinations in Bacolod City.
They will invite travel agents and operators to join the activity that will be led by acting Bacolod Tourism Officer Butch Gerasmo. The tour will start at 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will end up with a presentation and cocktails, he said.
Orola said they hope to survey and evaluate whether the tour destinations in the city can lure tourists in terms of historical, tourism and cultural value, as well as sports significance. (CNC)