LEGAZPI CITY, (PNA) — Over a thousand delegates from across the country will gather here on Wednesday for the national convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) on Oct. 2-5 at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation here, City Mayor Noel Rosal said.
Now on its 14th year, the annual ATOP national meet will be attended by some 1,300 tourism officers and members of various tourism councils from the 16 regions of the country, Rosal added.
Miguel Sison, tourism officer from Pangasinan and the current ATOP national president, said this will so far be the biggest attendance recorded for the past 13 years.
“We usually recorded 800 delegates in attendance during our past yearly conventions,” Sison said.
At a press conference at the City Mayor’s Office Tuesday, he commended Rosal for hosting the 14th ATOP convention with this year’s theme of “Strengthening Local Governance towards a Developed Tourism Industry.”
Sison said that aside from Legazpi winning the bid in this year’s hosting, the organization was attracted by the fast-phase economic development activities of the city — making it a rising tourism and business hub in the country.
He said delegates from other regions would learn and share experiences and best practices that other local government units would emulate.
Rosal said that because of its progressive tourism strategy, the city has been tagged as the “City of Fun and Adventure” and the convention city in Bicol.
The city chief executive claimed that at least 30 big convention events have been lined up for this year.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas will give the keynote address on Wednesday for the opening of the convention.
Activities lined up during the three-day meeting are tour of the 1st District of Albay showcasing Coron, cutlery, karagumoy and hand-made paper making, and stone house visit; second district, where the delegates will visit the Lignon Hill, pinukpok-weaving livelihood project, sanitary landfill, Legazpi ecopark, pamaypay (fan) making project, Daraga Church and Cagsawa Ruins.
In the third district, delegates will visit culinary projects such as Longganiza de Guinobatan, puto in Oas, calamay of Polangui, pinangat of Camalig and places like the Kawa-kawa of Ligao City and Camalig’s old houses.
Tourism forums concerning implementation of tourism programs in the local government units, importance of multi-stakeholders partnership in local governance, social media and the present trend in destination marketing, Dinagyang Beyond Festival: The Iloilo City Exerience, and rewarding local tourism best practices; presentation of bids for the 15th National Convention, election and induction of ATOP officers for 2014-2016.
The three-day convention will be highlighted by “The Pearl Awards” for the ATOP-DOT Tourism Best Practices in the Philippines.
During the convention, the delegates will also be treated to dinners hosted by Rosal, Albay Gov.Joey Salceda, and the Department of Tourism.