The city government here eyed to host more meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions or MICE this year that could boost the local tourism industry and generate more revenues and investments.

Councilor Jason Villarosa, chair of the City Council committee on tourism, said Monday the goal is to attract one to two events that accommodate 1,000 to a maximum of 3,000 delegates.

“With the capacity of the city, our target is 1,000 to 3,000 delegates,” he added.

Villarosa said aside from aiming to attract professional organizations of physicians and dentists to hold conventions in Bacolod, the city is also planning to bid for the hosting of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub, the country’s longest-running and most prestigious amateur golf tournament, in 2024.

According to the Tourism Promotions Board, MICE represents specialized sectors of tourism that require higher standards of tourism services and facilities.

Last December, the Bacolod Meetings and Conventions Promotions Board (BMCPB) convened for the first time since the City Ordinance 08-14-680 or the MICE Ordinance of Bacolod City was passed in 2014, seeking to make Bacolod a preferred destination for MICE.

“As Bacolod City slowly recovers to its previous robust economic state, there is a need to convene the BMCPB to secure the quality of the services of Bacolod City in accommodating MICE,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said in Executive Order (EO) 56.

Benitez, who is also the board chairman, said they aim to strengthen and showcase Bacolod as a choice destination or location for national and international MICE.

EO 56 further said the BMCPB would endeavor to develop incentive programs to encourage the entry of MICE in Bacolod City and the Province of Negros Occidental as well as programs to develop global MICE professionals.

It will also develop baseline data to serve as a basis for MICE programs; encourage inbound tourism and trade missions; produce promotion collaterals; and grant incentives and assistance for organizers. (PNA)