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PAGE 10Regional NewsSubic Freeport to host ATOP confabSep 03, 2010Punto Central LuzonSUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Key players in the domestictourism industry will congregate in this free port nextmonth for the 11th national convention of the Associationof Tourism Officers in the Philippines (ATOP), anevent that will showcase the country’s gains in localtourism.Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administratorArmand Arreza said the ATOP convention will beheld on October 3-6 at the Subic Bay Exhibition andConvention Center (SBECC), with Tourism SecretaryAlberto Lim as guest speaker.“We expect to see in Subic the best of the best in domestictourism, since this occasion will involve themen and women who are really the driving force in theindustry,” said Arreza, who once served as undersecretaryin the Department of Tourism (DOT).“Of course, this will also be a good time for the SBMAto showcase the successful metamorphosis of Subicfrom a US naval base to the country’s top free portzone and tourism enclave,” Arreza added.The SBMA made its bid to host the coming eventduring the 10th ATOP convention in GeneralSantos City.SBMA deputy administrator for business RaulMarcelo, who made the bid, said that threeother contenders wanted to host the 11th ATOPconfab —Tagaytay, Camarines Sur, and BatangasCity — but Subic was chosen as this year’svenue.According to ATOP national president RoselynArmida Merlin, the ATOP convention will gathersome 1,000 tourism officers, local chief executives,regional DOT executives and barangay officials.With the theme, “Strengthening Domestic Tourism”,the event will also serve as a venue to recognizethe best tourism practices of local governmentunits, with awards to be given for BestTourism Event, Best Tourism Week Celebration,and Most Outstanding Tourism Officers to encourageexcellence in promoting the culture oftourism in the grassroots.The convention will also feature lectures in promotingdomestic tourist spots to make themglobally- competitive, as well as inputs onthe Tourism Act of 2009 and its ImplementingRules and Guidelines to maximize the impactof the tourism industry in being a majorengine of economic growth.Merlin said the DOT has committed its financialsupport to the gathering, as well as its continuingpartnership with the LGUs in strengtheningthe domestic tourism industry.A young girl enjoys playing with a dolphin at Ocean Adventure inSubic.ATOP, the national group of local tourism officers,was formed in 2000 to promote sustainabletourism programs in the community in collaborationwith the private sector.