By Raymart Escopel
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 will dry run its newest tourism product called “Cruise and Tour” from June 21 to 22 prior to its official launching.
The Cruise and Drive Tour aims to connect the three islands of Western Visayas namely: Panay, Negros and Guimaras using roll-on/roll off (RORO) ships.
Through the said tourism product, tourists can travel the three islands by riding on their automobiles, cars, rented vans, jeepneys and tour buses driven on and off the ship.
On the scheduled dry run, DOT-6 invited tourism officers, tour guides, tour operators and media as passengers to conduct a Critiquing Activity during a two-day three-island tour in Western Visayas to identify if the tourism product is effective or not.
From Iloilo, passengers will be going to Guimaras through Lapuz Port. After visiting the selected tourism spots in the island province, they will direct to the Negros Occidental through Sibunag RORO Port. From Bacolod Port, the passengers will be going back to Iloilo as it ends in Dumangas Port.
If found effective, the Cruise and Drive Tour will become exclusive and distributed at the DOT foreign and regional offices, DOT-6 Office, local government units, DOT-accredited travel and tour agencies and promotional events, among others.
The Cruise and Drive Tour was introduced during the grand launching of DOT-6 promotional campaign “Experience Western Visayas First” held on March at the Freedom Grandstand. The said tour package was introduced to the public through a two-minute audio-visual presentation tackling it benefits and impact to the region’s tourism industry./PN
