ILOILO City – Western Visayas is taking the lead in stitching together a seamless tourism network across the Visayas, with the Department of Tourism (DOT) pushing the One Visayas circuits that promise world-class experiences in gastronomy, heritage, and diving.
DOT Region 6 assistant director Phoebe Zelie Areño said the ambitious project — launched at the sidelines of Iloilo City’s recent MICECON 2025 — unites Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, as well as the Negros Island Region (NIR), into three interconnected circuits: UNESCO heritage and gastronomy trails, diving expeditions, and cultural heritage discoveries.
“What is good is that we already have connectivity with these regions. Routes already opened, direct to Tacloban for Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), to Cebu, and we also have routes in Bohol and Dumaguete for NIR. If our visitors are into gastronomy, culture, or diving, they can go around the Visayas regions through this activity,” Areño said.
The plan highlights Capiz as the “seafood capital of the Philippines,” and extends the diving circuit from Antique to Guimaras, northern Iloilo, and Boracay.
Iloilo City’s recognition as UNESCO City of Gastronomy and Miag-ao Church’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status will anchor the heritage circuit.
“We will offer that to tour operators. We are in talks already with the tour operators. They were also part of the development of these circuits,” Areño added.
The One Visayas tourism circuit was unveiled before public and private stakeholders at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City early this month, signaling a united push to position the Visayas as a powerhouse tourism hub.
For Iloilo City, the MICE Conference complements this thrust by enhancing business tourism. MICE Center Director Maria Lea Victoria Lara said the conference — launched last year — has become a vital venue for stakeholders to forge partnerships, learn from experts, and create new business opportunities.
“This year, we focus on infrastructure development and allied tourism services to catalyze industry growth,” Lara stressed.
She pointed out that Iloilo’s airports, heritage buildings, and convention facilities are central to creating unique destination experiences and boosting the city’s competitiveness.
“Enhancing these assets will help position Iloilo as a top MICE destination in ASEAN,” she added./PN
