DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental -- The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) is eyeing the city to become a study and tourist destination.
New NOCCI president Francisco Martinez on Wednesday cited the group’s “dreams” for Dumaguete, namely to make it a study haven considering it is known as a “university-town”, a tourist destination, a place for doing business and investing, and a health and wellness destination.
Martinez said at least 25 Singaporean nationals came to study English at the Negros Oriental State University last year, instead of going to the United Kingdom or to the United States, where it is more expensive to learn it as a second language.
He noted that other foreign nationals like Koreans, Chinese and Japanese, among others, are also studying here.
On tourism, Martinez said Dumaguete and other parts of Negros Oriental have plenty offer, such as great scuba diving sites, caving, golf, mountain trekking, white water rapids, cultural, historical and ethnic cuisine, among others.
As to making Dumaguete a health and wellness destination, the NOCCI chief hurled a challenge to the business sector to consider putting up assisted-living homes for the elderly.
Martinez said there are now two new hospitals that are being constructed to address the needs on health and medical care amid the growing population here and the overflowing of patients.
American business magazine Forbes named Dumaguete as one of the best retirement places in the world, and a health and wellness-friendly place. (PNA)
