September Declared World Tourism Month By World Tourism Organization

World Tourism Organization declared September as Tourism Month and Bacolod City is set to mark the celebration September 12-17.

The Bacolod City Tourism Office spearheads the celebrations with various lined-up week-long activities anchored on the theme, “Tourism for All, “Promoting Universal Accessibility, a release from the Tourism Office said.

Due to the declaration of September 12 as a national holiday in line with the Muslim’s Feast of Sacrifice, the celebration will officially open on September 13 with a ribbon cutting of exhibits, food fair and for a on tourism related topics at the New Government Center.

An Audio Visual Production dubbed “A Tourist is a Friend” will also have special preview on the opening day together with the forum on the ASEAN Community Agenda which will be graced by Ma. Hellen De La Vega, Assistant Secretary and Director General ASEAN-Philippines National Secretariat of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Benito “Bong” Bengzon, Undersecretary Tourism and Development, Department of Tourism (DOT); and Rene Cortum, Senior Supervising Tourism Officer, Department of Tourism, Region 6, as resource speakers on the ASEAN Agenda, Bacolod City Tourism Products and Services and the importance of the DOT Accreditation.

A Forum on Entrepreneurial Tourism will also be held at the New Government Center lobby on Sept 13, 2016, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am; Forum on Eco –Tourism on September 16 the Bacolod Forest Park from 9:00 am to 11:30 am; and Forum on Agri-Tourism on September 17, 2016 at May’s Organic Garden from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

The Bacolod City Tourism Office will also be holding a Tour Guiding Competition for tourist police and high school students; Tourism Quiz Competition, will be participated by students from public and private schools; and Fashion Tourism Runway, a showcase of a couture creation by our featured designer Edwin Benetiz, dubbed as “Kasuutang Pilipino III”.

The celebration will showcase the best practices and products of the tourism industry and to give the community awareness and validation of the latest and newest trends, attractions, travel, leisure and entertainment, adventure and other related tourism products that will contribute to the economic development of the local and the national landscapes.