Europeans visit Iloilo City
European tourists got the chance to tour Iloilo City and province during their visit Saturday after their cruise ship docked in Loboc port, La Paz district, the City Information Office said.
The cruise ship MS Hanseatic carried some 100 European tourists, the second to arrive in the city this year. MS Columbus was the first one to arrive last March.
According to its website, MS Hanseatic is a five-star cruise ship owned by the Hapag-Lloyd shipping line in Germany. It is the only five-star expedition-cruise ship worldwide.
The visit of European tourists was a welcome development for the city’s tourism and investment promotion which is one of the priorities of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena said tourists find Iloilo City “one of the safest destinations in the country.”
Bernadine Palacios of All Star Travel said the group toured the city and visited some churches in the province such as the world-renowned Miagao Church and San Joaquin Church in the first district.
“They really like it here,” she observed.
Palacios said if arrangements will push through, another cruise ship will come to the city in January for a tour in time for the Dinagyang Festival.*
