THE Misamis Oriental provincial government led by tourism officer Cindy Faye Obeñita is already readying a grand tourism week for this year.
Along with the annual Kuyamis Festival in January, the tourism week is also a much-awaited event in the province that takes place each September.
Anchored on the theme Tourism and Sustainable Transformation, the provincial tourism week will be joined by all 23 towns and two cities of the province.
However, Obeñita said each local government unit (LGU) has the option to join in any of the three competitions: Pasundayag dance contest, booth contest and jingle contest.
These tilts serve as a mini-showcase of what each LGU can offer in the Kuyamis Festival by 2026.
Even then, the provincial government is shouldering cash subsidies to each participating city and municipality so they could beautify their respective booths more and provide adequate costumes to their performers.
Prizes for the tourism week contests this year will also be bigger, Obeñita disclosed.
Aside from the LGUs, the provincial tourism week will also be participated by the Misamis Oriental Hotels and Restaurants Association (MOHARA) with full support from the Department of Tourism (DOT) 10.
MOHARA members will undergo various seminars such as handling Filipino brand excellence, basic marketing and basic taxation during the week-long celebration which will start on September 15.
Obeñita said that the Capitol is technically assisting hotels, resorts and restaurants in the province so they could get accreditation from DOT, paving the way to professionalize their establishments better.
She went on saying that the aim now of the province is to offer immersive tours.
“Tourists will not just be taking pictures. We will let them experience the culture of MisOr. If we visit the site of the Mindanao silk production, we will let them try to weave. In the oolong tea plantation, we will let them try to pick,” Obeñita said.
The former international beauty queen said the thrust now of Gov. Juliette Uy is to promote community-based tourism which can translate to more employment and livelihood opportunities.
The provincial tourism week will kick off this September 15 with a flag raising ceremony at the provincial capitol grounds in Cagayan de Oro City.
