subject: Cotabato forms tourism promotion board [print this page] Cotabato forms tourism promotion board Cotabato forms tourism promotion board
COTABATO City -- The Cotabato City tourism office here has formed the tourism promotion board in an effort to promote tourist destinations in the city amid negative reports on peace and order.
Tourism promotion is one of Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani's thrusts since he assumed office last year and directed the tourism office to take bold steps.
One of the concrete steps is the creation of the Cotabato City Tourism Promotion Board. This tourism board is composed of representatives from different sectors of the community with about 90 percent coming from non-government organizations (NGOs) and the rest from the local government unit (LGU).
Architect Marlo Basco was elected as the executive chairman of the board with Guiani as the honorary chair. The board of directors composed of two representatives from the business, academe, tourism, city government, media, artists and several other sectors. City Tourism Officer Benjie Abarca said the creation of the tourism board was timely there has been an increase in the number of arrivals in the city. As compared to the same period last year, foreign visitors have increased by 2.8 percent while local tourists by 6.2 percent.
Abarga also noted that new hotels, restaurants and other establishments have been mushrooming in the city. "The tourism promotion board will serve as an umbrella organization to the several other organizations in the city concerned in uplifting our tourism like the local tourism council, hairdresser's organization, city hotel and restaurant association and other support groups," he said. The city government gives its full trust and confidence to the elected officers of the board especially to its executive chair Marlo Basco as he has always been very active when it comes to helping the community and the whole city as well.
The city tourism board will also take charge of the annual Search for Mutya ng Cotabato, one of the most prestigious beauty contests in the city during the city's foundation day. The group with the local government providing them with the necessary resources will handle all preparations for the said event. "The LGU will provide the financial support for the search, including other pageant requirement such as manpower," Abarca said. Abarca said this year's tourism promotions will focus on publication of tourist destinations and invitation to city festivals. pna
