BONTOC, Mountain Province – Thirty-two residents in Barangay Bayyo participated in the Tourism Awareness and Capability Seminar on Sept. 23 to 24.
The activity initiated by the Municipal Tourism Office aimed to help the community understand the concept and benefits derived from tourism, raise awareness on the structure of the tourism industry, and the Department of Tourism’s mandates, programs, and services.
Municipal Tourism Officer Caren Guinayen said the activity helped change the negative perception of the community towards tourism and even encouraged the communities to be more open to tourism activities.
Provincial Tourism Operations Officer 2 Tyronne Glenn Lawey introduced the social, economic, and cultural benefits of tourism in the community.
He stressed the importance of preserving the natural state of the tourist sites including those with cultural significance like the ato and old houses with ancient architectural design.
Tourism Information Officer Annie Graal Focasan of the Provincial Tourism Office discussed the number of tourists who visited the province as well as the most visited places in Mountain Province.
Elizabeth Farnican of the Municipal Tourism Office presented the situational report on the tourist arrivals in the municipality from 2015 to 2019.
During the first day of the activity, personnel of the provincial and municipal tourism offices and some trained tour guides went to Nabarangnan River/Camp and Petawana Falls for site assessment. – Christy Mae Che-es
