DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 11 (PNA) — The Sidlakang Negros Association of Tourism Officers (SINATO) has started discussing initial preparations for different events for the coming months, especially World Tourism Week next month and the province’s Buglasan Festival in October.
SINATO discussed the agenda for the World Tourism Week celebration on September 21 to 27 during its regular meeting last Friday attended by 25 tourism officers and representatives from various local government units in Negros Oriental, including Provincial Tourism Officer Myla Mae Bromo Abellana.
The World Tourism Week banners the theme: “Tourism and Community Development” with the local celebration being a joint venture of the Negros Oriental Provincial Government Tourism Office, Tourism Educators Council of Negros Oriental & Siquijor (TECNOS), Dumaguete City Government Tourism Office (DCTO) and SINATO.
Also tackled during the meeting were preparations for the upcoming Buglasan Festival, the province’s premiere socio-cultural showcase held every October.
Present during the SINATO meeting to present the series of events lined up for the Buglasan Festival were Board Member Mariant Escaño Villegas and Capitol tourism consultant, Dr. Nick Elman.
The group also included in their deliberations the ATOP (Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines) National Convention on October 2 to 4 to be held in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
SINATO president and Dumaguete City Tourism Officer Woodrow Maquiling Jr. encouraged its members to attend the convention and express their involvement for a more robust tourism industry, a news release on Monday said.
The SINATO also welcomed Rolim Malapit, the new Tourism Officer-Designate for the municipality of Amlan, who shared their latest ventures such as the Amlan Dreamland Zoo Safari, the first ever 13-hectare wildlife sanctuary of exotic animals, some imported from abroad. (PNA)