GO-NGOs to craft culture-tourism development plan
SAN JOSE, Antique – In an effort to make culture tourism as an instrument of change and a way to development, the multi-sectoral group composed of non-government organizations, cooperatives, government agencies, local government units organized a workshop to formulate culture tourism development plan.
Dubbed as “Workshop of NGOs-GOs Synergy in Culture and Arts for Sustainable Development”, the activity will flesh out issues and concerns including programs and projects on culture and arts as it is linked to tourism development to give the group a common direction for 2009 said Florentino Egida, Provincial Tourism Officer.
Initiated by the Provincial Government of Antique through the Provincial Tourism Office, the workshop will tackle topics on Cultural Concepts as it relates to development issues to be given by Alex delos Santos, Executive Director of the Binirayan Foundation and Inter-Municipal sustainable tourism development plan to be discussed by Rosario Maza, Provincial Director Department of Interior and Local Government.
The NGOs and GOs including the local government units and national agencies will also report on culture-based programs of their respective institutions to give way to the inventory of best practices that can be replicated in other areas, agencies or a provincewide scope, said Egida.
The activity will also strengthen the Binirayan celebration, a grand event in terms of cultural tourism in the province, to incorporate best practices of agencies/institutions and LGUs.
Tourism, Culture and Arts is one of the priority agenda of Governor Salvacion Z. Perez as stated in the recent State of the Province Address and also in support to the super regions blue print of action making Central Visayas a tourist destination.
Egida further said that they are determined to pursue the tourism promotion strategies by attending trade fairs and expositions, developing tourism development plan of municipalities that complement each other which will pave the way of having tour packages for local and foreign tourist.
The Provincial Tourism Office is moving on a high gear in 2009 with a clear vision of making Antiqueño proud of Antique, home for tourists who wish to enjoy heartwarming tourist destinations and events, said Egida. (PS Mabaquiao/PIA)