BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental is eyeing a return to its pre-pandemic status as the third most visited province in Western Visayas.
Provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz represented Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson during the opening of the 22nd Tourism Week at the Ayala Capitol Central Mall here yesterday.
Diaz said this year’s theme is “Rethinking Tourism”, which means incorporating responsibility with sustainable development.
“Before the pandemic, the province ranked third in Western Visayas after Boracay,” Diaz said.
Now, he said, the provincial government has started organizing tourism groups to go digital so that guests can have a peek at Negros online, get reservations and pay, as well as choose tour packages.
“Later on, we can have all our hotels, the Mambukal Wildlife Sanctuary and the Negros Residences, accept bookings online,” Diaz revealed.
The Mambukal Summer Resort, turned into a wildlife sanctuary, is capitol-run.
The provincial administrator said the information and communication technology (ICT) section has been tasked with putting up an application online so that when the country starts noticing an influx of tourists, the province’s tourism sector will be ready.
“We want to instill to all tourism officers in Negros Occidental that while we accept guests, we should also take care of nature, take care of our garbage, take care of their impact in communities where they go,” Diaz added./PN
