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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Friday, October 4, 2013

DOT cites Legazpi City among 14 top tourist destinations in the country

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 4 (PIA) - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has named this city among the top 14 tourist destinations across the country following up trend of tourist arrivals here totalling to 438,000 in 2012, according to the Mayor Noel Rosal.

This Rosal shared to the 1,200 officers and members of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) during the opening of the 14th ATOP national confab here on Wednesday at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation.

 “You will never regret choosing our city as the venue of this gathering as you will have a taste of hospitality that once you experience you will never forget,” he said.

The convention evolved on the theme “Strengthening Local Governance through Tourism Development.”

Rosal noted that the tourism industry remains as the number two dollar earner, second to overseas Filipino workers throughout the country.

"The tourism industry remains as the engine of development and economic growth in every community contributing so much to the revenue of a locality and directly benefitting local communities," he said.

Rosal pointed out that the numerous big gatherings held in this city for the past years until the present are a sign that Legazpi City is a favorite venue of meetings and other forms of fellowship by many big organizations from other parts of the country.

“These events have contributed a lot to the already-booming tourism industry of our city,” he added.

Rosal said his administration will continue to invite other national and international organizations to also hold their conferences here in Legazpi City as part of the promotion of the idyllic tourist destinations in the city.

He stressed that the ATOP convention and other gatherings conducted here is a big push to the tourism program of the city and benefit so much the transport sector, hotels and restaurants and other business establishment s that pay taxes to the city.

Maria Corato, ATOP vice-president for Mindanao and General Santos City tourism officer, said the convention here is the first time ATOP posted more than 1,000 participants.

Corato said the ATOP is the only association that holds gatherings with tours and cheapest accommodations, that’s why, she said, more and more are very interested to join the organization.

Corato said every year, the ATOP alternately conducts its conventions in areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao “because we want to showcase all these areas in the Philippines, particularly those in the eco-tourism sites in the rural communities that have tourism potentials.”  (MAL/EPSolis-CGLegazpi/PIA5/Albay)

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