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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Tourism Promotions Board Philippines) |
In its continuous effort to provide an improved overall tourism experience, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region VII launched the Wayfinder (Signage) Program in the municipality of Badian in the province of Cebu in partnership with its Local Government Unit (LGU). DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the Ceremonial Unveiling of the Badian Wayfinder held last January 20, 2023 and shared the vision of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. for Philippine tourism development. “Tourism development that does not only promote destinations across our country but more importantly, gives equal promotion and development opportunities to the countryside, that includes emerging destinations to give opportunities to our fellow Filipinos to have gainful livelihood by way of tourism,” said Tourism Secretary Frasco.
Present during the event were TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation Coordination & Resource Generation and concurrent Director for Regional Office VII Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Board Member Sarsi Baricuatro, Badian Mayor Carmencita Lumain and Vice Mayor Doris Silvano, Jose Cleo Cary Colis of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cebu, and Director Judilyn Quiachon of the Tourism Coordination and Regional Operations. Also in attendance were Cebu’s biggest Tiktok influencer and Sparkle GMA Artist Center talent Shuvee Etrata, businessman Hanky Lee of Henry Hotels, and former basketball celebrity, TV host, and entrepreneur Chris Tiu. The launch of the Wayfinder Program aims to propel Badian’s recovery efforts and development as a primary tourist destination in the Visayas region. These signages were installed in some of Badian’s major tourist destinations and activities, such as the Osmeña Peak, Kandungaw Peak, and Kawasan Falls, the endpoint of Badian Canyoneering activity. A component of making destinations accessible is making it convenient for tourists to locate and navigate tourist sites. This program aims to continuously improve navigation experiences in key and emerging tourism circuits to enable better experiences for guests traversing these trails.
“Badian is home to some of the most thrilling adventure destinations in the country, and we recognize its potential to join the ranks of other tourist hotspots and bring a tremendous boost to the country’s tourism industry. The launch of these tourism wayfinders in Badian’s major tourism sites and activities will be a valuable asset in promoting tourism and in propelling Badian’s economic recovery efforts. These signages, strategically placed in key locations, are designed to provide directional information and guidance for tourists to navigate and explore what these destinations have to offer,” said TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles. The Wayfinder Program is part of TPB’s key strategic directions focusing on strengthening the agency’s collaborative engagement with LGUs towards the full recovery of the tourism industry. This also supports DOT’s seven-point agenda aimed at enhancing the country’s overall tourism experience in the country, among others. Wayfinders were previously launched in Lucban, Quezon and another one is set to break ground in Botolan, Zambales later this year.
