Albay dresses up for major tourism confab

A TOUR of areas around Mayon Volcano on all-terrain vehicles is one of the tourism features that participants in the Pacific Asia Travel Association conference in Legazpi City would be offered.
MARK ALVIC ESPLANA/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—The province of Albay pulled all the stops in hosting a major tourism conference in this city, sprucing up the city airport with what looks like a showroom of the province’s finest pieces of furniture and showing conference participants what ecotourism really is all about.

As visitors step into the province through the airport, they were greeted with a VIP lounge set up by the provincial government to welcome at least 500 international tourism players taking part in the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) New Frontier Forum that would last until today at the Oriental Hotel.

“We are ready,” said Gov. Joey Salceda.

The forum adopted the theme “Ecotourism: Transcending Climate Change.”

The airport’s new “abaca lounge” is designed for participants of PATA, the first such event to be hosted by the Albay provincial government in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Designed by local furniture company owner Felipe Noe Napa, 36, of Camalig, Albay, the newly dressed VIP lounge features handwoven abaca furniture, alongside tables, chairs and decorative pieces made of nito vine and rattan.

Napa, owner of Albay-based Natural Carpet Industries, said the lounge is part of a promotion campaign to showcase the craftsmanship of Albay furniture makers.

Maria “Nini” Ravanilla, DOT director in Bicol, said the PATA forum would bring participants to the tourist spots and programs of the region, including the Lignon Hill, Cagsawa Ruins, Daraga Church, Legazpi Boulevard, Mayon ATV Adventure and Mayon Lava Watching.

Visitors were taken to a tour of these spots.

The conference proper would be opened by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez today.