SoCot's top tourist attractions to be featured in PH Travel Mart

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – South Cotabato province's world-class tourist destinations will be featured anew in the upcoming 29th Philippine Travel Mart that will be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.  

Argie Ryan Asaria, South Cotabato tourism operations officer, said Monday the province's tourism products and services will be among the top showcases of Region 12 or Soccsksargen in the event slated Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

Asaria said local tourism stakeholders are already gearing up for the annual tourism fair, which will be graced by international travel and tour operators.

The Department of Tourism in Region 12 (DOT-12) will spearhead the region's delegation, which will be composed of provincial, city and municipal governments, he said.

"We will be featured in the pavilion reserved by DOT-12 for the showcase," Asaria said.

The province's showcase will be bannered by the famed mountain resort town of Lake Sebu, which is touted as the region's summer capital.

The town is home to the several waterfalls, natural springs and the world-renowned T'nalak fabric, which is produced by women "dream weavers" of the Tboli tribe.

The other top attractions are the crater-lake Holon and Mt. Melebingoy in Tboli, tarsier sanctuary in Tupi and the Mt. Matutum in Tupi and Polomolok towns.

Listed as "must-see" emerging destinations are the Hidak Falls and Bakngeb River Cave, which feature a four-kilometer subterranean river in Tboli town.

Armin Hautea, acting DOT-12 regional director, said all four provinces and five cities of Region 12 have confirmed to join the event.

Hautea said they have assigned scheduled for participating local government units to hold promotional activities in the form of cultural shows and other events for pavilion visitors.

Region 12 is a perennial crowd drawer in the Philippine Travel Mart, which is considered as the biggest and longest-running travel and trade exhibition in the country.

Region 12 is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. (PNA)