The Iligan City Tourism Council headed by its President, Mr. William Yu recently embarked on a remarkable benchmarking activity on July 13-15, 2023 in none other than the Queen City of the South, Cebu City.
During this insightful journey, our dedicated team had the wonderful opportunity to explore the magnificent sights, immerse themselves in the vibrant culture, and learn from the best practices of one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the country.
The major purpose of the benchmarking activity was to learn about the world-famous Sinulog Festival and the creation of the Sinulog Foundation. The team aims to emulate the successes of this spectacular festival through the establishment of our own Diyandi Foundation in Iligan City.
By studying the Sinulog Festival and understanding the strategic initiatives implemented by the Sinulog Foundation, we hope to enhance Iligan City’s festival offerings, foster cultural appreciation, and attract visitors from all around the world.
Throughout the benchmarking activity, our team had the privilege of meeting with industry leaders and tourism officials who graciously shared their valuable insights, experiences, and success stories related to the Sinulog Festival and the local tourism industry of Cebu City as a whole. These interactions have undoubtedly inspired the team to further elevate Iligan City’s festival scene and create extraordinary experiences for both locals and tourists.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Local Government Unit of Cebu City headed by Hon. Mayor Atty. Mike Rama and Cebu City Tourism Office headed by its ever active Chief Tourism Operations Officer Mr. Neil Abelarde Odchigue for their warm welcome and generosity throughout our benchmarking activity. We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Cebu Sinulog Foundation Inc. Executive Director Mr. Elmer “Jojo” Labella, Cebu City Tourism Commission Chairperson, Coun. Atty. Jocelyn “Joy” Pesquera, and DOT 7 Tourism Development Division Chief, Ms. Gelena Asis-Dimpas for the wonderful insights and discussion about the Sinulog Festival, Sinulog Foundation, the projects and marketing strategies of the local tourism of Cebu City, and the plans and existing programs and projects of the regional tourism office. Your hospitality has truly left an indelible mark on our hearts and will undoubtedly shape the future endeavors of our local tourism and the Diyandi Festival in Iligan City.
