Bacolod City – The Negros Oriental Tourism Council has proposed the launching of a “Two Festival in one Trip Program” that will involve the celebration of the Buglasan Festival in Dumaguete City and MassKara Festival in Bacolod City, all in October next year.
Its chairman, Woodrow Maqiiling, Jr., made the announcement at the opening of the Kasalan@Kotilyon2024 Negros Island Region Wedding Tourism Expo in Bacolod City recently.
Maquiling said they are collaborating with the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), the largest travel and tour operators association in the country, to sell the program. He has also presented the proposal to Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
“One key for business to grow is to always work with the giants. Negros Occidental is a giant and the MassKara Festival is one of the largest festivals in the Philippines and across the world,” Maquiling said.
Buglasan Festival will be celebrated in Dumaguete on October 18 to 27. “We are one of the emerging destinations, so we stand with our brother giants on the Occidental side because there is no other way but to help each other,” he said.
Maquiling said that with the “Two Festivals in one Trip Program” we will be able to celebrate and enjoy the festivities of both Oriental and Occidental, as well as showcase the best of what the two provinces can offer.
“We invite everyone to start their journey in Dumaguete on Friday to celebrate the Buglasan Festival and after that, travel all the way to Bacolod for the highlight of the MassKara Festival”, he said.
They hope to get updates from Bacolod on the matter so they could be able to launch the program next year, he added. (Chrysee Semillano via The Visayan Daily Star)