The Provincial Government of Pampanga is hosting the event with the theme: “Tourism for All: Promoting Universal Accessibility,” for the first time since ATOP’s inception at the turn of the millennium in 2000.
ATOP delegates from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao started gathering here since Monday for the annual conference to honor tourism’s best practices led by its president Alphonsus Tesoro from the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Offi ce of Capiz and its core of officers with vice president for the Visayas Josie Granada from the City Tourism Office of Baybay, Leyte; vice president for Mindanao Minda Regis from the Provincial Tourism Office of Lanao Del Norte; secretary-general Josette Doctor from the Provincial Tourism Office of Northern Samar; treasurer Malu Elduayan from the Provincial Tourism Office of Pangasinan; secretary for the Visayas Roselle Ruiz from the Provincial Tourism Office of Aklan; PRO for Luzon Arwin Lingat from the provincial Tourism Office of Pampanga; PRO for the Visayas Ma. Elma Gerasmo from the City Tourism Offi ce of Bacolod; and regional representatives Eliseo Dela Cruz from the Provincial Tourism Office of Bulacan (Region 3), Alenmarie Alejo from the City Tourism Office of San Juan (NCR) and Jerry Anas from the Municipal Tourism Offi ce of Leganes, Iloilo (Region 6).
The delegates are joined by ATOP immediate past-president Miguel Sison from the City Tourism Office of Alaminos, Pangasinan.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo is the guest of honor and speaker at the opening on Tuesday dubbed, “Mekeni Malaus ka Pampanga (Come and Welcome to Pampanga): Governor’s Night” at the Clark Parade Grounds here adjacent to the hotel.
An array of speakers is lined up for this year’s national convention. Among them are the keynote address of Sen. Nancy S. Binay on Advancing Tourism for All: Priority Legislative Agenda on Philippine Tourism; former tourism secretary Mina Gabor’s talk on Diversifying Tourism Products and Expanding Access to Tourism: Pathways to Optimizing Agri-Farm Tourism in the Philippines; DENR Bio-Diversity Management bureau director Theresa Mundita S. Lim‘s talk on Ecotourism, Green Economy and Environmental Wellness: New Prospects and Enduring Challenges to Tourism Stakeholders; and Atty. Lucas Nunag’s talk on Greening the Tourism Value-chain: The Bohol Experience.
Highlighting the 17th national convention is The 2016 Pearl Awards Ceremony where former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be the guest of honor.
ATOP founding president, DOT Region 10 regional director Catalino Chan, will deliver the keynote address for the ceremony.
Some of the activities lined-up for the delegates are agri-farm tour, ecotour, museology tour, heritage tour, adventure tour, creative industries tour, business enterprise tour and industrial tour.
Last year’s ATOP national convention was hosted by the Davao City government.
