GENERAL SANTOS CITY, (PNA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 12 will officially launch next week a new tourism brand for the region’s enhanced promotion efforts.
Nelly Nita Dillera, DOT-Region 12 director, said Friday they will formally adopt the “12th Paradise” brand for the region as it moves to launch a global sales pitch for the area’s prime world-class eco-tourism attractions.
She said the new tourism brand’s launching will be held during the region’s tourism week celebration slated on Sept. 25 to 28 in this city.
The celebration will focus on the theme: “Converging tourism initiatives towards inclusive and sustainable tourism development.”
Dillera said the activity will be highlighted by the holding of the 2013 regional tourism summit; regional travel, trade and services fair; and, the Mindanao tourism congress.
The other activities lined up are the tourism quiz bowl, tourism skills presentations, cultural performances and the Miss Tourism-GenSan pageant.
The official said they’re hoping to counter the “negative publicities” that Mindanao has been getting due to the ongoing standoff in Zamboanga City.
“With so many bad reports coming from Mindanao these days, we need to bombard the world with so many good news about our region,” she said.
The new tourism brand will feature Sarangani province as an adventure haven through its river tubing, diving and paragliding attractions; this city for its famed tuna; South Cotabato for Lake Sebu; North Cotabato for Mt. Apo; Sultan Kudarat for its agri-tourism, natural springs and ziplines; and, Cotabato City for its cultural treasures.
She pointed out that to further boost the region’s tourism industry, there should be consistent collaborative efforts coming from various agencies and stakeholders.
“Tourism development in the region is presently being done through convergence ventures of local government units and several national line agencies,” Dillera said.
She said these agencies include the departments of Trade and Industry; Public Works and Highways; Environment and Natural Resources; and the Social Welfare and Development.
Along with the vision to increase tourist arrivals in the region, Dillera added that the agency is presently working on the improvement of the area’s tourism products and enterprises such as pasalubong centers, resorts, restaurants, hotels, tour packages and tourist transport services.