BONTOC, Mountain Province – Thirty-two residents in Barangay Bayyo, Bontoc, Mountain Province participated in the Tourism Awareness and Capability Seminar on September 23-24, 2021.
The activity initiated by the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Tourism Office aimed to help the community understand the concept and benefits derived from tourist activities.
Further, the seminar aimed to raise awareness on the structure of the tourism industry, and the Department of Tourism’s (DOTs) mandates, programs, and services.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey remarked that tourism not only paves way for economic growth and development but also aids in the preservation and promotion of culture.
“One of the heavily affected in this time of pandemic is the tourism industry. Thus, as we enter the state of new normal, measures should be taken to slowly bring the tourist industry back to life,” he added.
According to Municipal Tourism Officer Caren Guinayen, the activity helps change the negative perception of the community towards tourism and is a way to encourage the communities to be more open to tourism activities.
Provincial Tourism Operations Officer II Tyronne Glenn Lawey introduced the social, economic, and cultural benefits of tourism in the community.
He also stressed the importance of preserving the natural state of the tourist sites including those with cultural significance like the “ato” and old houses with ancient architectural design.
Meanwhile, Tourism Information Officer I Annie Graal Focasan of the Provincial Tourism Office discussed the percentage of tourists who came to the province as well as the most visited places in Mountain Province.
Elizabeth Farnican of the Municipal Tourism Office presented the situational report on the tourist arrivals in the municipality from 2015 to 2019.
During the first day of the activity, personnel from the Provincial and Municipal Tourism Offices and some trained tour guides went to Nabarangnan River/ Camp and Petawana Falls for site assessment. By Christy Mae Che-es
