Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia urged the academe and stakeholders from the tourism industry to support the city’s 80th anniversary activities, which are scheduled to run throughout the year.

During the Tourism Awareness Conference at the L’Fisher Hotel yesterday, City Administrator John Orola, who represented Leonardia, told those gathered to help the city boost its tourism program, particularly with the anniversary celebrations going on all year.

Orola said around 800,000 tourists visited the city in 2017, wherein 10 percent were foreigners.

He pointed out, improving tourism products and services would bring in more local and foreign tourists.

The city official also informed attendees that tourism is a flagship program of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He added, the recent visit by 250 Canadian citizens of Filipino descent was a success as it exposed Bacolod City as an “emerging tourist destination in the Philippines.”

In observance of the year-long celebration, several annual events celebrated in the city have been rebranded under the “Bacolod@80” banner.

Among the events given the added label include the Bacolod@80 Independence Day, the Bacolod@80 Rizal Day Celebration, the Bacolod@80 Diwali Festival, among others.

In addition, Semana Santa, or Holy Week, considered by the Roman Catholic Church as a tribute to the passion of Jesus Christ, also received a “Bacolod@80” moniker./DGB, WDJ