Negocc promotes tourism at biz exchange with Czech Republic
THE tourism industry of Negros Occidental has gained boost through a business exchange with public and private tourism stakeholders of Czech Republic, an official said.
Provincial Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Cristine Mansinares, who met with tour operators and official of Czech Tourism Authority at Seda Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Wednesday, said the province and Czech have been collaborating for various endeavors including tourism development.
Mansinares said the Czech delegation led by Tourism Authority Director Michal Prochaázka is currently going around the Philippines to update local tour operators of their new tourism products and programs.
Before Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, they went to Manila and Cebu. The group’s last stop is Iloilo.
“During the tourism business exchange, we were also able to present what we have in Negros Occidental that can also be promoted among Czech nationals,” she added.
Mansinares highlighted the tourism sites and the province’s existing collaborations with Czech Embassy since 2015.
The Czech tourism official, along with tour operators of three companies, toured some of these sites and tried some of the local cuisines.
“They also wanted to create a program here in Negros Occidental that can be sold to Czech nationals and their clients in Europe,” Mansinares said.
One of the visiting tour operators who has roots in La Castellana town and established a business in Prague will create the itinerary that can be marketed in Czech, she said.
“Considering that Czech is a landlocked country, the province has a potential market there especially in terms of beaches and other sea products,” Mansinares added.
Aside from tourism exchange program, among other partnerships between the province and Czech Republic included the establishment of trail marking at Mount Kanlaon Natural Park in 2015.
The Angry Christ Church or the Saint Joseph the Worker Chapel in Victorias City, which is declared as an important cultural properties in the Philippines, was also designed by Czech architect Antonín Raymond.