GenSan conducted Tourism Summit 2016

   As part of the Tourism Week Celebration, the Department of Tourism (DOT) 12 in collaboration with the Local Government of General Santos City organized the SOCCSKSARGEN Tourism Summit held last September 26, 2016 at KCC Convention Center with its theme - SOX Tourism: Engaging Stakeholders to Current Trends for a more aligned Tourism Industry. Different tourism stakeholders from the region participated the summit to not only know the latest developments and trends in tourism but also to discuss current challenges and issues confronting the sector. 

   “The summit’s main goal is to align our tourism product with the current trends in the industry,” said Nelly Nita Dillera, the Regional Director of DOT 12. “In line with Tourism Act of 2009, we should harness the potential of the tourism sector as engine of sustainable growth,” said RD Dillera. 

   During the summit, she presented the Product Portfolio Development Priorities of Region XII. These are - Cultural Tourism; Nature Based Tourism; Sun and Beach Tourism, Leisure & Entertainment Tourism; MICE Tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exposition), Health, Wellness & Retirement Tourism; Cruise & Nautical Tourism; Diving & Marine Sports Tourism; and Education Tourism. RD Dillera also presented the Strategic Direction of the National Tourism Development Plan (2011-2016) which focus on: 1) Develop and market competitive tourist products and destinations 2) Improve market access, connectivity and destination infrastructure 3) Improve tourism institutions, governance and human resource capacities. DOT 12 has been working with different government agencies. They have launched several tourism projects that help increase the tourism arrivals in SOX region. 

   The Tourism Summit also discussed the trends in Farm Tourism as well as Diving, Marine Sports and Nautical Tourism. The summit also highlighted the enhancing competitiveness of SOX Tourism to ASEAN market.

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