The Provincial Tourism and Culture Office (PTCO), led by Acting Provincial Tourism and Culture Officer Marichelle O. Costales, hosted the first of the month’s Flag Raising Ceremony, conducted today, February 3, 2025, in the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center, Capitol Compound, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. This coincides with the celebration of National Arts Month.
The PTCO took the opportunity to list their achievements in the past semester of 2024 in an opening address done by Sharen G. Bonayon, Tourism Operations Officer II. These achievements include a 48% increase in tourists coming into Nueva Vizcaya compared to 2023. Two tourism circuits were also launched, the routes of which are easily accessed on digital platforms for convenience. An initiative to launch a tour of the Provincial Capitol also went through, now open and available to the public, with designated vehicles and a detailed route of the sights within the capitol accessible on the Nueva Vizcaya Tourism page.
The PTCO also spoke of their frequent and steady stream of Internet posting on said page to feature the many amenities, attractions, and activities within the province. These include the 15th Grand Ammungan Festival held in May 2024, soon to be recognized as the province’s official festival. The office’s activity also shows in its numerous tourism seminars, as well as the 2nd Tour Guides Assembly and the Integrated Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (ITOPCOP) Training, which were also conducted in subsequent months.
The influx of tourism brought with it necessary changes. The Lower Magat Eco-Tourism (LMET) Park in Diadi was named one of the most visited places in the province alongside Sky Scape 360 and Love Camp in Ambaguio, Malico Salacsac Pass and the World War II Sherman Tank in Santa Fe, Tam-An Mt. Resort and Hotel in Bayombong, among others. LMET itself has generated more than 9 million in revenue along with its surrounding amenities and activities, has recently been renovated and improved by the provincial government, and been selected as the Regional Nominee for Eco-Tourism Destination of the Year award under the Institutional Category of the Philippine Tourism Awards 2024.
The PTCO also won numerous awards and recognitions in the past year, with Mrs. Marichelle O. Costales in particular being recognized as the Most Outstanding Tourism Officer at the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines – Department of Tourism (ATOP-DOT) Pearl Awards, held in October 2024. Nueva Vizcaya was also the First Runner-up in Best Brochure at the same awards. The PTCO was also commended by the National Commission for Culture and Arts for garnering the HIGHEST RATE of COMPLIANCE in the Local Cultural Inventory, a result of the tireless commitment of the office to maintaining the province’s cultural inventory and tracking of tourism statistics.
Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito at the end of the ceremony took the opportunity to thank not only the PTCO for their exemplary performance, but all of the provincial government offices who have received positive feedback from their clients. “Thank you for a job well done,” said the governor.
Under the praise and positivity from not just the governor but the people of Nueva Vizcaya, the PTCO reiterated its commitment to accomplish above and beyond service for the good of the province as it becomes a premier tourist destination. /igmb
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