The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through its Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, conducted the Tourism Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting and Planning Workshop last October 9, 2020 as part of a series of pre-launching activities relative to the opening of tourism in Pangasinan to the rest of Region 1 and Baguio City. This pre-launching project is in collaboration between and among the LGUs in the province that are ready and willing to restart tourism in their areas, as well as the different Provincial Government departments, national agencies and tourism stakeholders who will play vital roles in the first phase of this initiative.
Present were First District Provincial Board Member and Committee Chairman for Tourism, Culture and Arts Hon. Orange Humilde-Versoza via Google Meet to deliver her welcome remarks, followed by Department of Tourism Region 1 Director Francisco Joseph “Jeff” Ortega from the same platform. By way of introduction, a presentation regarding the Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor Plan between Baguio City and the provinces of Region 1 was discussed by Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Maria Luisa Elduayan. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Anna De Guzman also provided updates about the current status of Pangasinan with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic and their recommendations for the health and safety protocols to be adopted in relation to the Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor Plan while PNP representative PLTCOL Bernett Nabunat reported on the border control status of the province.
Tourism Officers from cities and towns with priority destinations and representatives from the invited tourism associations also provided concise updates regarding their respective LGUs’ and associations’ status in the industry. The Pangasinan Tourism Reopening Guidelines were also discussed among the participants in order to come to a collective agreement or for further discussion and clarifications.
/MCDG
