promote tourism for Negros Occidental
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan yesterday said more effort is needed to promote Negros Occidental as a tourism destination on the international market.
The mayor recently returned from the Internationale Tourismus Börse (ITB), or International Tourism Exchange, which took place in Berlin, Germany earlier this month, who said she would discuss matters regarding tourism with Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr.
Nicor-Mangilimutan noted, through the ITB, she realized the province is not well-known internationally, considering visitors to the booth asked where Negros Occidental is located.
She admitted Dumaguete City, because of the Apo Island diving course, and Boracay, for its white sand beaches, are more exposed.
“We need to improve on our linkages in the European market,” she said.
She suggested one way to achieve would be through social media.
The mayor also believes “complete tour packages” would enable European tourists to cover the entire province of Negros Occidental.
Nicor-Mangilimutan said visitors during the event expressed interest in the sulfur-dipping pool at the Mambukal Mountain Resort and hiking up Mt. Kanlaon.
During the ITB, Mangilimutan said they also discovered Europeans interested investing in the bamboo industry.
The mayor informed the potential investors that the bamboo industry is a focus of the Marañon administration.
She added, La Castellana’s Barangay Mansalanao is where bamboo plants thrive the most in the town./DGB, WDJ