Bacolod City ‘enhances appeal’ to be premier MICE destination

As the host of the MICE Conference 2018, Bacolod City is positioning itself as a premier destination for meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions/ events.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who spoke before the conference participants at the SMX Convention Center on Wednesday, November 28, said this year, the city’s emphasis is to develop more new tourism products to differentiate Bacolod from other destinations.

“To signify the importance, we attach to the tourism industry, we will invest in a number of tourism-related developments and we shall strive to enhance the quality of tourism infrastructure on various fronts,” he added.

Among these are the P165-million museum and auditorium being facilitated by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and the proposed 12,000-seat coliseum.

The mayor said that resources will also be deployed for new initiatives focusing on targeted visitor segments to showcase Bacolod’s unique tourism appeal.

These include further upgrading and promoting the now worldfamous “MassKara Festival;” promoting and developing new products in culture, heritage and food tourism; collaborating with agencies and organizations to roll out a series of promotional activities targeting MICE visitors as well as transit passengers; and supporting renowned mega events and home-grown events showcasing local characteristics.

Leonardia expressed confidence that the completion of the infrastructures and facilities will improve the city’s attractiveness and competitiveness in attracting more people to visit Bacolod for business and pleasure.

“Tourism is one of our city’s economic drivers…Simply put: Tourism puts food on the tables of many Bacolodnons,” the mayor said.

Thus, Leonardia said the city government has to act swiftly and adjust its strategies for tourism development to keep pace with the fast-changing needs of travelers and challenges faced by the tourism industry.

The three-day MICECON 2018, which ended on Thursday night, November 27, gathered about 500 travel and tourism practitioners from airlines, hotels, resorts events, and conventions industries across the Philippines along with those from the local government units and the organizers from the Tourism Promotions Board, Department of Tourism, and Bacolod Organizing Committee.