By Alma L. Tingcang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 12 -- Sixty-two private sector representatives from hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and schools attended the Tourism Stakeholders Summit on February 6, at Garden Orchid Hotel to work hand-in-hand with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other government agencies to fulfil the tourism plans of Zamboanga Peninsula region.
“Tourism is everybody’s business”, said Ms. Mary June Bugante, Regional Director of DOT-9, who talked on current tourism trends that served as useful information for the stakeholders to improve the quality of their services.
DOT’s 2011-2016 National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) was introduced by Ms. Marilou Silorio, Senior Tourism Operations Officer of DOT-R9, which emphasized DOT’s vision to make the Philippines a ‘must experience and more fun destination in Asia’. She also discussed current tourism issues and concerns of the city and posed possible solutions, proposing partnerships with the private sector.
Ms. Mary Ann Montemayor, Vice President for Mindanao Tourism Congress, who was the guest speaker of the summit said that “Zamboanga is important since it is a vital and integral part of tourism in Mindanao”. She inspired the stakeholders to play a vital role in the tourism goals of DOT.
Accompanying Ms. Montemayor were DOT Region XI Director Art Boncato, Mr. Jason Magnaye, Davao City’s Tourism Officer, and Ms. Jean Banggayon, Co-Chair of DUAW Davao Foundation, who joined her to invite local stakeholders to the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions and Events Conference (MICECOn) 2013 on March 6-10 at SMX Convention Center, Davao City.
RD Art Boncato also shared the background of DOT’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign that was launched online through social media sites with the goal to promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination in Asia. He stressed that it is the role of tourism stakeholders to market and elevate the positive side of the country.
Stakeholder participants also voiced out their concerns regarding tourism development in the region. DOT-R9 will be conducting more projects in the coming months that will address concerns discussed and further promote and develop Zamboanga Peninsula as a premier tourist destination. (FPG/ALT/DOT9/PIA9)
“Tourism is everybody’s business”, said Ms. Mary June Bugante, Regional Director of DOT-9, who talked on current tourism trends that served as useful information for the stakeholders to improve the quality of their services.
DOT’s 2011-2016 National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) was introduced by Ms. Marilou Silorio, Senior Tourism Operations Officer of DOT-R9, which emphasized DOT’s vision to make the Philippines a ‘must experience and more fun destination in Asia’. She also discussed current tourism issues and concerns of the city and posed possible solutions, proposing partnerships with the private sector.
Ms. Mary Ann Montemayor, Vice President for Mindanao Tourism Congress, who was the guest speaker of the summit said that “Zamboanga is important since it is a vital and integral part of tourism in Mindanao”. She inspired the stakeholders to play a vital role in the tourism goals of DOT.
Accompanying Ms. Montemayor were DOT Region XI Director Art Boncato, Mr. Jason Magnaye, Davao City’s Tourism Officer, and Ms. Jean Banggayon, Co-Chair of DUAW Davao Foundation, who joined her to invite local stakeholders to the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions and Events Conference (MICECOn) 2013 on March 6-10 at SMX Convention Center, Davao City.
RD Art Boncato also shared the background of DOT’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign that was launched online through social media sites with the goal to promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination in Asia. He stressed that it is the role of tourism stakeholders to market and elevate the positive side of the country.
Stakeholder participants also voiced out their concerns regarding tourism development in the region. DOT-R9 will be conducting more projects in the coming months that will address concerns discussed and further promote and develop Zamboanga Peninsula as a premier tourist destination. (FPG/ALT/DOT9/PIA9)