According to recent data from the Iloilo City Tourism and Development Office, a total of 418,079 local and foreign visitors came to the city between January and June of this year. A city government release credited the meetings, incentive travel, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) sector, highlighting the Conquest Festival E-Sports and Pop Culture Festival last June, along with various conventions.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said he hopes the trend continues.
Meanwhile, barangay officials from across the city attended the Iloilo City MICE Forum and Stakeholders’ Workshop last week.
“As growth engines for development and progress, we should take care of MICE as a centerpiece of governance,” explained former Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Salvador D. Sarabia, Jr., who currently heads the newly-opened MICE Center, located on the third floor of City Hall. “The assembly had very good results because we saw the positive and favorable reactions of Ilonggos in this approach.”
According to DOT-6, Iloilo City ranks second in the region in terms of tourist arrivals. Aklan, where resort island Boracay is located, came in first./WDJ

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