Mobile app seen to boost Ormoc’s tourism

FILE: “We want Ormoc to be known to many and since almost 90 percent of the people own mobile phone, we have to move with the trend,” Mayor Richard Gomez told reporters on Tuesday. (Photo: Ormoc City Government/Facebook)

ORMOC CITY, Leyte — The city government is eyeing more tourists with the recent launching of a mobile application designed to promote the city as a tourism destination.

Dubbed as myormoc app, the technology seeks to update tourists on the latest festival, where to stay, tourism activities, and other information through their mobile phones.

“We want Ormoc to be known to many and since almost 90 percent of the people own mobile phone, we have to move with the trend,” Mayor Richard Gomez told reporters on Tuesday.

The mobile application, launched on Oct. 19, was developed through the collaboration of the local government, Ormoc information technology department, the city media center, and the STI College Ormoc.

It will be managed and maintained by STI and the information technology department of the Ormoc City Hall.

Gomez clarified that the city government did not spend for the application since it was funded by a private school while Gomez spent his personal money for the launching event.

Meanwhile, the anti-drug war of President Rodrigo Duterte has made the city more peaceful and orderly, according to the mayor.

“It is easy for tourists and visitors to come to the city because of its apparent peace and order. Tourists are beginning to rediscover the city,” Gomez said.

He recalled that tourist arrival in 2014 was only 57,746 and increased to 61,608 in 2015. The figure went up to 128,218 in 2016 with most of the visitors coming in on the last half of the year, according to him.

He expects that the number of tourists this year will surpass the arrival last year, noting that as of April 2017, arrivals was recorded at 96,139 visitors.

The local government has been promoting the city as “jackfruit and vegetable capital” of Eastern Visayas. The city is also known for producing sweet pineapples. (PNA)