THE City Government of Sipalay is banking on planning, policies, programs and projects, practice, and passion (5Ps) as measures to further develop its tourism industry.
Jerick Lacson, City Tourism Operations Officer, said Sipalay envisions as a leader of sustainable tourism in Negros Occidental and the entire country.
Lacson said they aim to transform and promote Sipalay City as a sustainable tourism destination.
"This is through community development and empowerment, creative citizenship, environmental protection, cultural preservation, climate change, and disaster preparedness, and standards and quality improvement," he added.
Records of the Sipalay City Tourism Office showed that in terms of tourism supply, it has 48 accommodation establishments comprised of 25 resorts and 23 hotels, inns, and pension houses.
These establishments have a total of 423 rooms with a daily capacity of 1,676.
In terms of tourist arrivals, records further showed that the "Jewel of Negros Island" has catered to 250,513 domestic and foreign tourists in 2017.
Of the figure, 129,183 are day tourists and 121,330 overnight tourists, it showed.
For tourism receipts, or the amount of money spent by tourists during their stay in the city, the office reported almost P2.7 billion on the said year.
Lacson said that tourism is a big deal for Sipalay because it has rich natural and cultural assets and best approach to community-development on top of being hospitable.
He, earlier, said that for the past two years, the city has focused mainly on promotion.
With the emerging problems and issues including those about the environment, the city eventually became mature and its focus has shifted.
Thus, their campaign for the moment is really pushing for sustainable Sipalay.
In terms of planning, Lacson said the city already has tourism development plan along with its master development plan, five-year coastal resources management plan, 10-year solid waste management plan, five-year disaster risk reduction and management plan, and forest protected area management plan.
These are on top of ongoing plans like forest land use planning, local climate change adaptation planning, cultural properties and creative industries sustainable utilization plan, he added.
The southern Negros Occidental locality is also banking on policies which will guide the implementation and adoption of its plans.
Among its existing tourism policies are those provided under City Tourism Code of 2006, amended Sipalay City Tourism Code of 2017, Tourism Environmental User Fee System, and Tourist Transport Accreditation Ordinance for land and water tourist transport operators.
For programs and projects, Sipalay City has been implementing capacity and human resource development, strengthening of stakeholders involvement, community-based tourism, and sustainable tourism initiatives.
In terms of community-based tourism, the programs are Sipalay sunset tours among fisherfolk villages incorporating local tricycle drivers, mangrove tours, cave trekking tours, and community-run tour, among others.
Lacson said programs are vital in channeling the plans to the people, or putting these plans into action.
Practice, on the other hand, will define the effectiveness of your plan, policies, and programs, Lacson said, stressing that the stakeholders will eventually become leaders.
"Passion, then, will determine the continuity and sustainability of the programs and plans," he added. (EPN)