TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The City Tourism Office (CTO) of Tabuk City recently won the “Best in Tourism Month/Week Celebration” category during the 2014 National Pearl Award of the Association of Tourism Officers (ATOP) of the Department of Tourism.
In a media statement, Tabuk City Tourism Officer Arlene Ethel Odiem credits the reward to the continuous and unrelenting efforts of the city government through its CTO to boosts its tourism industry as highlighted during the 2013 tourism events and activities conducted in the city.
“Our 2013 City Tourism Month events landed as top four in the ATOP National Tourism Pearl Awards for Tourism Best Practices for the Tourism Month – city category,” she said.
The other finalists are Sagay, Island Sipalay and Silay City.
The Pearl Award: ATOP-DOT Best Tourism Practices of the Philippines started in 2005 and launched during the 6th ATOP National Convention to institutionalize the annual system of recognition.
It recognizes exceptional practices, projects and innovations and the men and women behind the great contribution in the community and tourism industry hoping to encourage creative works and exceptional services among stakeholders.
Said award has five major categories, the ‘Best Tourism Event’ which is divided into sub categories - Festivals; and Adventure/Sports/Wellness Tourism; Best Tourism Month/Week Celebration; Best Tourism-Oriented LGU; Tourism Month/ Week event; Most Outstanding Tourism Officer; and Most Outstanding Tourism Officers Club/Organization/Association.
Each sub-category is further divided into three level of awards namely the provincial, city and municipal levels.
The awarding ceremony was held at L Fisher Hotel October 4 highlighting the three-day tourism convention hosted by Negros Occidental and Department of Tourism-Region 6. (Gigi Dummalig)