MANILA, Philippines — The Western Visayas unit of the Department of Tourism (DOT) will launch a market tourism program this year, in a bid to lure tourists to buy more local products.
DOT region 6 director Helen Catalbas said the market tourism program aims to further develop and beautify selected public markets in the region, in order to attract more tourists to buy local products from the region.
“We studied that one of the major activities of Filipino tourists before they go home is to shop for local delicacies,handicrafts – pasalubong,” Catalbas said, adding that most of the region’s tourists are from the domestic market.
Catalbas said the DOT is partnering with local government units of the region’s cities and municipalities for the market tourism program.