Biggest Tourism Assembly in the Philippines opens
Nov 14th, 2007 by Philippine Travel Blog
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Negros Occidental — Tagged as the biggest tourism assembly in the country, the 2007 Western Visayas Tourism Assembly (WVTA) opens with Bacolod City and the Province of Negros Occidental as hosts for the 7-day event.
Tourism industry according to Department of Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta is the biggest industry in the world today.
Trompeta said that it (tourism) is a people’s industry, not only of the government alone, but is where everybody should be part of,” adding that tourism is a human activity which is not only concern with people visiting the place, the hotel rooms occupied, the amount of dollars earned but as a generator of economic activity even for the people like taxi drivers, meat suppliers, fish and vegetable sellers.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia in his message said that the staging of the biggest Masskara Festival this year and the holding of the WVTA provide a perfect momentum for the growth of the city.
Leonardia also acknowledges the advantage of the recognition of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Western Visayas as the tourism belt in the country.
“We here in Western Visayas must see to it that we live up to that expectation of not only our region but of the whole country,” Leoanrdia said.
On behalf of Governor Joseph Marañon, Board Member Gary Acuña, chairman on the committee on tourism said that through this assembly, we are showing the country that the region has a lot to offer because we are united towards the right direction in support of the national agenda.
Guest speaker DoT Undersecretary for Tourism Services and Regional Affairs Oscar Palabyab revealed that although Europe is number one in the industry, Southeast Asia including the Philippines has the fastest growing tourism industry in the world.
Other activities are lined up to last for a week and it is expected to generate investments to the region. A Travel Exchange is set where buyers and sellers of tourism attractions meet. Tourism Congress is scheduled where investments, incentives and opportunities will be discussed. Key players in the industry will also be recognized in the Tourism Excellence Award and other activities include the Tourism Fair, Cultural Showcase, Tourism Olympics, Food Festivals, Search for Miss WV Tourism and the Regional Parade of Festivals.
