TOURISM WEEK: GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
The United Nations (UN) World Tourism Organization spearheads World Tourism Week on September 20 each year. In the Western Visayas region there is good news and bad news.
First the good news. San Miguel Corporation (SMC) broke ground today at Gua-an, Leganes in Iloilo an P8.5 billion brewery plant, its major investment in the region.
SMC Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang led the ceremonies, as he also announced that SMC is submitting an “unsolicited proposal” to build the Panay-Guimaras bridge.
Still the good news. The Iloilo Golf and Country Club (IGCC) hosts the “First Iloilo Golf Summit on September 20-22.
Some 50 golf movers and shakers from various golf clubs in the country are meeting to draft a manifesto calling on authorities for the declaration of 2020 as “National Golf Tourism in the Philippines.”
Tourism regional director Helen J. Catalbas earlier described the Filipino golfers as “high-end tourists.”
Aklan province observes Tourism Week with “Tinda Turismo” in Boracay on September 20-23, allowing small entrepreneurs to showcase their products. The week-long program culminates in a forum and exhibits at the capital town of Kalibo on September 27.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Lacson exhorted local producers to “keep improving” the quality of food products during ceremonies at the ‘Tourism Excellence Awards.’
Now the bad news: Guimarasnons continue reeling in agony. National government officials still have to act on calls to end the “unreasonable” rules imposed by the Coast Guard in the aftermath of the August 3, 2019 sea accidents at the Iloilo strait. /jft
PHOTO: Negros Occ. Governor Eugenio Lacson; San Miguel Corp. CEO Ramon S. Ang; Iloilo officials led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and Mayor Jerry Trenas with Sen. Franklin Drilon; Tinda Turismo poster in Boracay, Aklan. (From FB posts of LGUs Aklan, Negros Occ. and Nereo Lujan)
