Department of Tourism officials from Manila and Region 7 are in Negros Oriental to help craft its Tourism Roadmap with industry stakeholders and align the various programs of the government.

Resource speakers are Warner Andrada of the DOT central office, who presented yesterday the current global and national tourism trends and issues in line with the National Tourism Development Plan of the Aquino administration; Judilyn Quiachon of DOT 7; and Rebecca Labit of the Puerto Princesa Tourism Office, who discussed the role of local government units in tourism development.

Representatives from the hotels, resorts, travel and tours, restaurants, dives shops, the transportation sector, tourism police; the province’ island tour guides, mountain guides, town and city tourism officers, personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials  participated in the workshop.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo said industry stakeholders should not compete but complement each other and that  he hopes to see a well-crafted roadmap with the support and participation of all.*JG