TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 1 (PNA) -– The
Department of Tourism (DOT) and local government units are luring Manila and
Cebu-based tour operators to include tourist-ready Leyte and Samar destinations
in their promotions.
On Nov. 24 to 27, the DOT’s
Tourism Promotion Board (TPB) brought to Leyte 10 tour operators from Manila
and Cebu to personally experience local tourism products and services.
“Our local stakeholders have been
wondering why we are not being promoted. The TBP came here and assessed our
destinations. The result is positive. They brought tour operators here for a
familiarization tour,” said DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes.
“This is an indication that we are
now on the radar. Tour operators are interested because they want to see what
happened to Leyte and Samar after super typhoon Yolanda.”
Among the destinations included in
familiarization tour are various landmarks, Yolanda memorial, San Juanico
Bridge in this city; Sohoton National Park, Panhulugan Caves, and Sa-ob Cave in
Basey, Samar; Kalanggaman Island, Tabuk Marine Park and bird watching in
Palompon, Leyte; Lake Danao National Park in Ormoc City; Macarthur Landing
National Memorial Park and Pope Francis Pilgrim Trail in Palo, Leyte.
“This is just the beginning of our
advocacy for linking tour operators from Metro Manila to the regions. The
purpose is to evaluate the readiness of tourism products and services,” said
Cesar Villanueva, head of TPB’s Industry Relations and Services Division.
With the possible inclusion of
Leyte and Samar areas in the tour operator’s promotion, the DOT asked the
public to support tourism development initiatives.
“We need everybody in the
community support through cleanliness and peace and order. We have to remember
that tourists will share their tourism story to others,” Tiopes added.
The DOT has been inviting tourists
to visit Leyte to witness how the provinces recovered from the 2013
catastrophe. (PNA)
FFC/SQM
FFC/SQM
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