1st Provincial Tourism Congress slated on February, 2011

By PJTremedal, BND MIsOCC-CIB/OCM

Provincial Capitol, MisOC- The 1^st Provincial Tourism Congress is slated on February 16-18 this year. A two day meeting of minds and seeing wonderful tourism destinations of the 3 cities and 14 towns of the province will be conducted to rediscover the province beauty and best tourism potentials.

In its theme: Re-discovering the beauty and its best of Misamis Occidental, versioned to be a meeting point for all institutional, entrepreneurial and social stakeholders that is related to tourism industry. It also wants to b a platform for the exchange of information, reflections, best practices and projects and programs related to a very fast-growing tourism industry in our province and country today.

As pinpointed in its vision, the 1^st Provincial TourismCongress will represent a cornerstone of a new entertainment culture based on healthy activities and respectful ways of enjoying the environment and the culturalheritage of Misamis Occidental and its constituents.

On its activities, Provincial Tourism Council Chairman, Gerard Hilarion Ramiro said that this is the first ever happened in the province 81 years of its existence. The two day Congress will be a great help not only for the province tourism program but to its 17 towns and cities.

In day 1, Local Tourism Officers and Local Tourism Council will meet and discuss things and rediscover how beautiful is the province and the best of its tourism potentials. Mr. Gain Paul Barras, Provincial Tourism Officer-Designate, in the meeting confirms with the other Tourism Officers of the municipalities and the cities of Tangub, Ozamiz, and Oroquieta.

On the next day, as a major undertaking of the 1^st Provincial Tourism Congress, the 1^st “Lantaw sa Misamis Occidental” will commence, Lantaw is a Visayan word meaning sightseeing to all tourism potentials and destination offered by its 17 towns and three cities.

The 1^st “Lantaw sa Misamis Occidental” will be joined by other stakeholders and guests and take a ride with the province newest acquisition of its two modern buses initiated by the provincial government of Governor Hermie Ramiro to cater the needs of its employees, visitors, and other passengers to sight see the province natural and beautiful destinations.

In the said Congress there will be a Photo and Layout Design competitions for Students and other professionals, the contest will be having a two category: Open and In-School category. Mr. Barras added that because of financial needs, the congress has a registration of 500 pesos for Tourism Officers and Tourism Council Chairpersons (with 1 night accommodation at MOAP, food for 3 meals, transportation, Id and souvenir T-shirts) 200 pesos for each stakeholders and partakers and other guests (each will have a free lunch, ID and a souvenir T-shirt).

Mr. Barras also said that the congress will undergo Team Building activity, lecture and discussion, brainstorming, work group discussion, technology acquisition after workshops and participation.

In the 1^st Lantaw sa Misamis Occidental, 5 sectors will be focused on Tourism services (Transportation, Travel Agencies, Tourism Guides), Food and Delicacies, Products(OTOP), Accommodations (Hotels and Restaurants) and Promotions and other undertakings boosting the tourism industry of the 17 towns and cities and the Misamis Occidental.