Domestic tourism gets boost at ATOP confab

MANILA, Philippines - Domestic tourism will continue to be a sunshine industry for the country as it got a major boost in the 11th National Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines (ATOP) held recently at the Subic Bay Freeport attended by over 700 tourism officers, local executives, and barangay officials.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, the event’s guest of honor, affirmed the DOT’s continuing partnership with the LGUs in strengthening the tourism industry.

He said the annual gathering highlighted the gains of domestic tourism and its role as a major engine of economic growth. He said that the Tourism Act of 2009 aims to build on these gains to make the Philippines competitive in the growing world tourist market.

Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Ray Villafuerte urged local chief executives to be entrepreneurial and take the lead in undertaking major tourism projects, citing the phenomenal success of the CamSur Watersports Complex and the Caramoan island group as new tourist hotspots.

Also feted at the annual confab were the best practices of LGUs in promoting the culture of tourism at the community level.

Negros Occidental and Gen. Santos City topped the Best Tourism Week Celebration in the provincial and city categories, while Michael Palispis of Aurora was named Most Outstanding Tourism Officer because of his innovative promotion of the province as a top surfing, eco-tourism and heritage site.

Named Best Tourism Event in various categories were the 3rd Gensan Eco Karera (Gen. Santos City), the 2nd Summer Beach Sports Festival (Compostela Valley), Sigabong sang mga Kanyon (Bago City), Coco Festival (San Pablo City), Pintados-Kasadyahan Festival (Leyte), Sagingan Festival (Tubod, Lanao del Norte) and Tilaw Food Festival (Surigao City).

Capiz scored a double victory when its Dungog Indigenous People Festival was named best provincial cultural event and won the hosting of the group’s 12th convention in 2011.

Meanwhile, Miguel Sison of Alaminos City, Pangasinan was elected national president of ATOP for 2011-13.

Other newly-elected national officers were Ivan Patrick Ang, executive vice-president; Glenn Ricaroz, secretary general; Minda Regis, treasurer; and Benjamin Jimena, auditor.

ATOP, the national federation of local tourism officers, was formed in 2000 to promote sustainable grassroots tourism programs in collaboration with the private sector.