We took a trip to the beautiful city of Bacolod and attended the Department of Tourism’s special event that used creative tourism to highlight the city’s food, culture, people, and tradition. The entire experience of getting to know a different place was a great way to end 2023 and wrap up an incredible year full of exploring the Philippines more and tasting delicious food this country has to offer.
GET TO KNOW ABOUT CREATIVE TOURISM
Now, you might be wondering, “What’s creative tourism?” Well, it’s a type of tourism where you actively join in on local activities and experiences. It’s considered as a new generation form of tourism that involves not only the tourists, but also the entire local community.
The big idea is to make tourists feel more connected to the place. They do this by giving them meaningful experiences that help keep and show off the local traditions and history.
Creative tourism is like a step beyond traditional sightseeing. It’s not just about looking at things but really getting into the local culture. You can visit amazing places and also join in, actively learning and participating in the local traditions. It’s all about being part of the experience!
This emerging trend not only enriches the travel experience but also contributes to the sustainable development of local communities. This concept is not just about observing and enjoying cultural experiences; it’s about jumping in and making things happen. People who travel now want to have experiences that connect them deeply with the place they’re visiting.
EXPERIENCING BACOLOD
Our experience in Bacolod showed us first-hand how creative tourism can be for getting tourists involved and giving them more chances to explore the local culture. Our journey started with a conference by the Department of Tourism, featuring Secretary Christina Frasco and other guests.
Let’s move on to the fun parts! We had so much fun during our stay in Bacolod as we really tried to experience everything the city had to offer. We went on an adventure with tourist experts who explained the foundation of creative tourism in the Philippines through fun workshops and activities.
What do you think was our favorite part, guys? The Bacolod food, of course! What’s a better way to get to know a place than through its food? We started with delicious Calamansi Piyaya, followed by a coffee tasting experience that taught us new knowledge. Plus, we had the opportunity to learn how to make chocolate the traditional way!
And guys it doesn’t end there! We also got to know more about “slow food”, a sustainable concept of food preparation that is very close to our hearts and values as French People. The night ended with an awesome dinner full of Bacolod’s best food and dancers showing off the cool traditions of Bacolod.
The kindness and hospitality of the people in Bacolod left us super amazed. This creative tourism perfectly highlighted the people, their knowledge, and their traditions by showing off their passion in cocktail-making, cooking, making local products, and so much more!
Creative tourism is a concept we can definitely get behind on as in the end, being able to immerse ourselves into culture and traditions is what we love the most about the Philippines.
