NEGRENSES are urged to take advantage of the advances in technologies, especially mobiles, to help the province promote its tourism industry.
Provincial Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Cristine Mansinares, who led the opening of the 18th Negros Occidental Tourism Week at Robinsons Place Bacolod on Friday, called on Negrenses to make use of the current mobile technologies in promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism.
Mansinares said they are also urging local tourism enterprises to continue innovating so they can sustain competitiveness amid the current travel trend.
“Travelling is now made easier with booking platforms that have friendly features and are accessible to all,” she added.
Themed “Tourism and the Digital Transformation,” which is patterned from the World Tourism Day celebration of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the week-long activity will run until September 21.
Along with the opening rites was also the start of the three-day Provincial Tourism Fair at the said mall.
Through this fair, local government units (LGUs) in the province are given the opportunity to further promote their new tourism products.
It is also being participated by two Bacolod-based travel agency associations, which are selling their tourism packages.
Mansinares earlier said the 18th Negros Occidental Tourism Week underscores the role of digital transformation in developing the province's tourism industry.
Through a forum at the Provincial Capitol's Social Hall in Bacolod City on September 18, the celebration will highlight the importance of technological advances particularly on how it can help the market as well as provide LGUs the opportunity to grow economically.
“Negrenses can be tourism ambassadors of the province by communicating positive stories of our market-ready sites through their social media accounts,” she said.
Other activities include the annual thanksgiving mass and food parade also at the Provincial Capitol's Social Hall on Monday, September 17.
The province will also hold tour guiding competition, tourism quiz, and Negros Occidental Tourism Excellence Awards.