Iloilo city: Iloilo City has been recognized as the top destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) in the region, affirming its status as a tourism leader by promoting multidimensional tourism products. During the Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 (Western Visayas) Pagdayaw 2025 event, Iloilo City was honored with several awards, including the Tourism Mover Award, the Model Tourist Attraction Award for its Iloilo River Esplanade, and the Top Contributing LGU for Same-Day Tourist Arrivals.
According to Philippines News Agency, Maria Victoria Lara, director of the city government's MICE CENTER, expressed her elation at the recognition, stating that it underscores the city's commitment to hosting world-class conventions and business events. Lara emphasized the importance of continuing to innovate services and tourism activities alongside partners and stakeholders to provide quality tourism experiences. She noted that the recognition would strengthen the city's promotional efforts to attract more MICE events, with several programs lined up for the year.
In addition to Iloilo City's accolades, the Iloilo MICE Alliance received the Outstanding Stakeholder Association in the Tourism Sustainability Award. Natalie Lim, accepting the award, highlighted the pride in representing not just Iloilo City and province, but also the broader Western Visayas region.
Tourism Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, representing Secretary Christina Frasco, remarked that the Pagdayaw event celebrates the essential role of tourism stakeholders in transforming challenges into opportunities and elevating the standards of the travel and hospitality sector. He cited the significant contributions of stakeholders to the region's tourism, which has seen approximately 11 million foreign visitor arrivals over the past 24 years, with notable contributions since 2021.
The regional tourism office also acknowledged other notable achievements, including awards for gender mainstreaming and product development to Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, and the Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office. The towns of Tigbauan, Aklan's New Washington, and Silay City were recognized for their efforts in promoting multidimensional tourism products and governance in accreditation and sustainability.
The Pagdayaw 2025 ceremony, led by DOT-6 Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez and Assistant Director Phoebe Zelie Are±o, highlighted the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in advancing tourism in Western Visayas.
