DOT allots P2-M to boost Zamboanga tourism

FILE: Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, who was present during Zamboanga City’s recent Hermosa Festival, invited tourists to visit Zambaonga. (Photo: http://web.tourism.gov.ph/)

MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has allotted some PHP2 million for a product enhancement initiative meant to revive Zamboanga tourism.

In partnership with the DOT, the city government of Zamboanga launched the “Mi Ciudad Limpyo Y Floriao” (My City, Clean and Bloom), a cleanliness and beautification project as part of its Hermosa Festival.

To date, the project has been piloted in more than 10 barangays with the active support of the local government officials, the Department of Education and La Hermanidad, an active association of Zamboanguenos based in Manila and overseas.

“We are not going to redesign or rebrand Zamboanga with this project. This is to purely enhance and build back better Zamboanga ,” Regional Director Antonio Francisco Blanco said in a statement.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, who was present during Zamboanga City’s recent Hermosa Festival, invited tourists to visit Zambaonga.

Zamboanga City is the most visited destination in the Zamboanga peninsula having 678,125 tourists in 2016, a 60 percent increase over 409,156 of the same period last year.

Its famous attractions include Fort Pilar, Paseo del Mar, Pasonanca Park, Pink Island and barter trade center, among others. (PNA)