The provincial government here and the Department of Tourism – Western Visayas are in the process of organizing micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in the municipality of Libertad into a community-based tourism organization (CBTO).

Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office consultant Celestino Dalumpines, in an interview on Tuesday, said that the newly opened destination in Libertad has been attracting tourists.

Dalumpines said that as a tourism organization, they can collaborate with the local government unit in coming up with tourism activities, such as putting up photo booths, selling souvenir items, and opening massage parlors that could further generate income.

“Hopefully, by the second week of August, the MSMEs could already formally organize to start planning their tourism activities,” he said.

The local government of Libertad, in partnership with a Korean investor, opened the “Whale Shark Watching and Coral Diving Eco-Tourism Destination” in Barangay Barusbus on July 16.

“Tour operators include the destination in their tour packages to Boracay Island,” he said.

Barangay Barusbus is about 57 km. via the Caticlan Jetty Port from Boracay, Western Visayas’ premier tourist destination.

Dalumpines said Libertad’s proximity to Boracay could entice tourists to visit the newly opened destination in Antique rather than going to Oslob, Cebu, which offers a similar attraction. (PNA)