Tourist arrivals in Oriental Negros through Dumaguete City continue despite discouraging crime reports.

Based on their latest statistics, tourists have continued to flock Dumaguete in May and June, city tourism officer Imelda Aquino said.

For May alone, she said tourist arrivals went up to 13,398 and 10,695 in June. Aquino said the decrease in June was attributed to the opening of classes.

Aquino said Americans continue to top the number of visitors with 752 in the two-month period, followed by Japanese with 447, and South Korea, 369.

She also said she is optimistic that tourist arrivals will continue to grow because Dumaguete remains a safe place for visitors.

Nevertheless, lack of hotels and pension houses remains the city's major problem, particularly during the holding of major events, she said, adding that this week alone, some 200 city veterinarians will converge in Dumaguete for a national conference.

Next month, she said, the city will also host the meeting of the regional tourism council and the national diocesan liturgists.

NORECO PROJECT

Meanwhile, the Negros Oriental 2 Electric Cooperative is launching a project called "Operation: Linis Poste" this month.

The clean-up drive is undertaken in cooperation with the Friends of Banica River and the Environment as well as the city and the provincial governments.

The program intends to remove billboards, posters, announcements, and notices from the electric posts of NORECO 2.

The campaign is based on Board Resolution No. 181, dated October 17, 2005, that prescribes penalties for those who refuse to obey, membership affairs and promotion section head, Stephen Salgado, said.*RG

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