Iloilo City was named the region’s top destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) and recognized as a tourism champion for promoting multidimensional tourism products.

During the Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 (Western Visayas) Pagdayaw 2025 on Thursday, Iloilo City also received the Tourism Mover Award, the Model Tourist Attraction Award for its Iloilo River Esplanade, and Top Contributing LGU for Same-Day Tourist Arrivals.

“We are extremely elated and honored for Iloilo City to be recognized as Region 6’s TOP MICE Destination. This recognition affirms the city’s commitment to excellence in hosting world-class conventions, exhibitions, and business events,” Maria Victoria Lara, the director of the city government’s MICE CENTER, said on Saturday.

Lara, in an interview, said that together with their partners and stakeholders, they will continue to innovate on services and tourism activities to ensure the delivery of quality experiential and immersive tourism for guests.

She said that the recognition would help boost Iloilo City’s promotional efforts to attract more MICE events.

“We have several programs and events lined up for the rest of the year. In partnership with the MICE Alliance and with the help of our grant from TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority), we will be able to reach new markets to promote Iloilo City as a premier MICE Destination in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),” she added.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo MICE Alliance was also named as Outstanding Stakeholder Association in the Tourism Sustainability Award.

Natalie Lim, in receiving the award on Thursday, said they are proud to represent not only their city and province, but also Western Visayas.

Tourism Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, who represented Secretary Christina Frasco, said that Pagdayaw “affirms the important role of every tourism stakeholder as mover and shaker who transforms challenges into opportunities, raises the standards of the travel and hospitality sector, and contributes to the growth, promotion, and governance of the tourism sector in Western Visayas.”

“As domestic tourism continues to fuel our economic progress, your region’s countless presence and contribution can propel tourism forward for a stronger public and private partnership,” he said.

He cited that the efforts of stakeholders greatly contributed to the region’s tourism, which saw an estimated 11 million foreign visitor arrivals in the past 24 years. The tourism office also honored other stakeholders who helped contribute to the 11 million foreign visitor arrivals since 2021.

The regional tourism office also conferred the Tourism Champion in Gender Mainstreaming Award to Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, the Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, and the Tourism Champion in Product Development to the Municipality of Tigbauan in Iloilo, Sipalay City, and Capiz’s provincial government.

The tourism champion in promotions of multidimensional tourism products was also awarded to the towns of Tigbauan and Aklan’s New Washington, Sipalay City, and the Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.

Silay City and Tigbauan also bagged the Outstanding Governance in Accreditation Implementation and Sustainability Award.

Tigbauan and Capiz also received the Excellence Award in Tourism Governance.

DOT-6 Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez and Assistant Director Phoebe Zelie Areño led the ceremony. (PNA)