NegOcc tourism not affected by NegOr carnage but security up for Panaad fest

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena on Tuesday said that the tourism industry in the province was not affected by the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and 8 others.

But Decena said security is expected to be heightened for the 2023 Panaad Festival sa Negros next month.

Decena said the province has surpassed its target of tourists coming in the province.

Last year, tourist arrivals numbered 350,000 while this year’s target is 500,000.

She said that it is also possible that some tourists may prefer to travel to the province than the Oriental side because of the Degamo assassination, but she added that “we don’t want to capitalize on that.”

Meanwhile, Decena said preparations for the Panaad sa Negros Festival are in full swing.

She said national government officials will join the festival but she did not divulge their names for security reasons.

Panaad sa Negros Festival was launched at the provincial lagoon where the official logo and music were unveiled.

Decena said 27 candidates from the different LGUs will vie for the ‘Lin-ay sang Negros’ title.

Aside from national government officials, Decena said celebrities were invited as well as popular Pinoy bands like Rivermaya to entertain the public.

The first in-person holding of the Panaad sa Negros Festival will be held on April 17-23, 2023 at the Panaad Park and Stadium with a P25-million budget.

Panaad sa Negros festival is dubbed as the mother of all festivals in the province as all the local government units participate and gather at the Panaad Park and Stadium where all the local government units have their respective pavilions to showcase their products.