Gubernatorial aspirant Juan Orola Jr., who served the country’s tourism industry for almost 40 years, is looking at tourism as a new industry in the Province of Negros Occidental.
Orola was the first Tourism Field Coordinator of Negros Occidental, Tourism Attaché of the Department of Tourism in Japan, Korea, North Asia, USA, North America, and former chairman of West Visayas Tourism Council.
“Tourism is now embedded in my blood that I could not resist. I always think tourism, act tourism and speak tourism in any manner and in any way wherever there is a forum and the subject of which is tourism,” Orola said.
Agri-Tourism, Aqua-Tourism, Eco-Tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) are the tourism packages that can help the province’s economy and the marginalized sector, he said.
Orola said he believes that it is now time to introduce other industries in Negros Occidental to complement the sugar industry as the tourism multiplier effect will have a positive impact in the province’s socio-economic growth.
“If given the opportunity to serve our province as governor, I will institutionalize tourism as another industry in Negros Occidental and we will create tourism and trade missions to promote our products especially in major markets, as well as develop new destinations in our province, open up our province to local and international tourism; and develop airports and seaports, he added.
Orola’s platform includes health, job creation, agriculture, tourism, trade and investment, overseas employment, education and sports for youth development, infrastructure, environment, and reconciliation for peace.*
