DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, October 6 (PIA) -- The Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport now has a dedicated Tourist Information Center (TIC) to assist arriving local and foreign tourists and balikbayans. 

Officials from the provincial government led by Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria and Negros Oriental Tourism Board Executive Director Woodrow Maquiling Jr. opened the TIC inside the arrival area of the airport on October 2, 2023.

The TIC follows a native design but has an interactive media board for a modern way of providing information about premier destinations in the province, including the world-famous diving spot Apo Island.

The media board has a touch screen display that shows the map of Negros Oriental.

Users can tap a certain city and municipality and it will automatically show information and photos of tourist attractions in the said locality, with a 360 degree view of the selected tourist destination.

“Tanan tourists and locals na mobisita, once they see this, our beautiful tourism area, they’ll say naa gud improvement and it also shows they are welcome here (All tourists and even returning locals, once they see this beautiful tourism area, they will be able to say there have been improvements here and this also shows that they are welcome here),” Sagarbarria said.

Maquiling disclosed that the improvement of the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport is part of the current administration's plan, especially since the local chief executive has included tourism in his priority thrusts for economic development.

“There’s no other airport in the province mao na gipanindutan gyud. State-of-the-art technology with a beautiful resort-hotel vibes. Mao na ang gina-offer sa mga tourists coming here (The province has no other airport, that is why we are exerting efforts to improve it. Through this, we offer tourists a state-of-the art technology with a beautiful resort vibe),” Maquiling said.

The TIC will be manned by personnel from the Provincial Tourism Office who will attend to tourists' requests for assistance. 

Tourist police offers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) will also be there to provide security.

Maquiling said he will request the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to also allow representatives from travel and tour agencies to man the TIC so they can also offer their services and tour packages to the tourists.

The opening of the TIC is significant since the celebration of the annual provincial fiesta, the Buglasan Festival, is fast approaching.

Buglasan Festival, dubbed as the “festival of festivals,” is a gathering of all cities and municipalities in the province to showcase their heritage, culture, and artistry.

This year, the Buglasan Festival is scheduled on October 14-22, 2023 in Dumaguete City.

Malacañang already declared October 20, 2023 as a special non-working holiday in the province to allow NegOrenses to join the revelry and watch the Festival of Festivals Streetdancing and Showdown featuring 10 cities and municipalities in the province. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)