ILOILO CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT Region 6) is leading the creation of a crisis-proof tourism development plan (TDP) for Western Visayas, the region that is home to world-famous Boracay Island.
“Our reformulated TDP with crisis management component will be our guide to properly, effectively, and strategically address tourism risks,” said newly-appointed DOT Region 6 Director Cristine Mansinares.
The DOT Region 6 recently organized an online workshop for the local government units (LGUs) in six provinces and two-highly urbanized in integrating Tourism Crisis Management Plan (TCMP) to its TDPs.
Environmental planner and Development expert Evan Anthony Arias gave technical guidance
tourism officers, planning officers, and disaster management officers the template how to create crisis management tools.
Given the challenges of the pandemic, the LGUs of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces as well as the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod have to reassess its priorities in the tourism industry.
“The TCMP can respond promptly and prioritize programs in response to the needs of its tourism stakeholders, tourism attraction, and site conditions,” Mansinares emphasized.
Tourism officers Junel Ann Divinagracia of Iloilo City, Gilbert Marin of Iloilo province and Al Tesoro of Capiz province said the workshops are timely and useful in updating the LGUs’ respective TDPs, which was first crafted in 2019.