Events: Orola Voted Tourism Council Head

Western Visayas Tourism Council Reorganized, with Atty. John Orola Jr. having been elected new Chairman & President of Western Visayas Tourism Council.

At a meeting organized by DOT Region VI, officer in-charge/and Acting Director Atty. Helen J. Catalbas, Western Visayas Tourism Council convened and was re-organized recently, creating a potent force that will create new directions and put dynamics in the Tourism Industry of Western Visayas Region.

The newly elected officers are:Chairman/President: Atty. John N. Orola Jr., (Chairman of Bacolod City Tourism Council and President of Skal International).

Vice Chairman: Ms. Vicky Ramos-Antonino (Aklan)

Secretary: Ms. Nancy Pestaño (Negros Occidental)

Treasurer: Ms. Neptune Pittman (Guimaras)

P.R.0: Dr. Mae Panes (Iloilo City) Auditor: Corazon Tiangco (Capiz)

Board of Trustees:

Capiz - Ms. Corazon Tiang-co, Aklan - Ms. Vicky Ramos-Antonino; Bacolod City- Atty. John N. Orola Jr.; Iloilo Province- Hon. Demy Sonza; Iloilo City Dr. Mae Panes; Guima-ras- Ms Neptune Pittman; Negros Occidental- Gov. Alfredo Marañon represented by Ms. Nancy Pestaño.

Chairman Orola, the former Tourism Attache and Director for Japan and USA and North America and Former Congressman of the Lone District of Bacolod was unanimously nominated and voted by the Board of Trustees.

Orola noted that the DOT Secretary is targeting an increase of tourist arrivals to the Philippines to ten million by 2016. Total tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 2011 is 3,917,454 as compared to 3,520,471 in 2010. Western Visayas’ share of the Tourist Traffic involving Foreign Tourists - 511,464, Domestic - 1,896,231 while Overseas Filipinos is 41,081 - a total of 2,478,974.

It is therefore important that Western Visayas group has to work more to get a substantial share of the foreign tourists. Orola noted that there are 3 airports of International Standard - Iloilo, Bacolod-Silay and Kalibo. The local governments of Western Visayas together with the private sector should put up more promotional funds and efforts to promote the region in the foreign market.

Orola as the new elected Chairman and President of Western Visayas Tourism Council vowed to work closely with DOT National and Regional offices to attain its goal in developing the tourism industry of Western Visayas.*