MAKATI CITY – The Campuestohan Highland Resort in Sitio Campuestohan, Barangay Cabatangan, Talisay City, is the only recipient in Western Visayas of this year's prestigious Tourism Award (resort category) during the 11 th Tourism Awards of the Rotary Club of Manila at the New World Hotel in Makati City yesterday.

Rotary Club of Manila director and Committee on Tourism Awards chairman, Robert Lim Joseph, lauded resort owner Ricardo "Cano" Tan for creating a family destination in Negros, on his own.

“He went through this, creating jobs and developing the craftsmanship of Negrenses. He was able to influence government to put up electricity to a certain point and to put up roads, and the rest he did it himself,” Joseph said.

He also said Campuestohan has generated big interest in its neighborhood. And now, with the expansion that is coming in, at peak season, the resort can get  as high as 4,000 people in one day.

The Rotary Club of Manila, the first in Asia, and an organization that recognizes achievers in tourism, that was organized in 1919, has seen how Campuestohan Highland Resort contributed to the tourism industry of the Province of Negros Occidental and in the Western Visayas, he said.

Joseph said tourism is the only answer that can generate millions of jobs and in different fields. And “Cano” is the one who has made a destination in Negros Occidental with his world class resort, he said.

“If we want to develop Negros as a convention center, we need a place that can offer something for the children and people of all ages,” Joseph said.

“Tan has leveled up. What he has done, compared to other resorts in Asia, is something that we can be proud of,” he also said.

"How we can parallel social tourism with an amusement park? By getting the supplies from around the areas so that the poor  can generate income aside from employment. So there is a multiplier effect here that is happening,” he saod.

Perhaps in the future, some foreigners might invite him if he can come to other countries and put up a theme park. This becomes now a Filipino expertise, Joseph said.

“It is nice to go to a place where there is a story to be told and as the property is continuously being developed, we can have more stories to tell”, he said.

Meanwhile, Tan thanked the Rotary Club of Manila for the prestigious award which, he said, shows their recognition of his vision and  hard work in realizing his quite ambitious dream.

In his acceptance speech, Tan said, this is a laudable endeavor of the club because it recognizes persons and institutions for their contributions to various fields like tourism.

“Our family is happy and fulfilled to receive this award coming from your organization which is the first Rotary Club in Asia with the motto Service above self,” he said.

Tan said this recognition will further encourage and motivate them even more in their dream of making the Campuestohan Highland Resort one of the best tourism destinations in the country.

Tan, who was accompanied by his wife Nenita, also invited the Rotarians and their guests to visit Campuestohan Highland Resort, which he said “is a place like no other.”

RCM president Frank Evaristo said the objectives of this award is to promote the Philippines as a destination for various Rotary clubs throughout the world with emphasis on the ASEAN region in cooperation with the various governmental institutions such as the Department of Tourism, Philippine Tourism Authority and private associations such as Philippine Travel Agencies Association and Philippine Tour Operators  Association and Philippine Tour Association.

This event has earned a rightful place in the annals of the Tourism industry and has made a significant contribution to the deployment of tourism in the country, he said.

On the other hand, Joseph said they are recognizing personalities and institutions, for the 11th year, and these awards are being given to people from different walks of life. He also congratulated those who have made their contributions in their own fields of expertise.

Aside from Tan, other awardees were Jose Mari del Rosario of Microtel for budget hotel tourism; Dr. Milagros Castillo-Espina of the University of San Jose Graduate School - education tourism; Kingson Sian of Travellers Intentional Hotel Group, Inc. for integrated hotel tourism; former Tourism Secretary Vicente Carlos – Rotary tourism; Jaime Bautista president of Philippine Airlines for airline;

Vernin Prieto of El Carmino Travel for travel agency; Elizabeth Fernando of Elizabeth Hotel - boutique hotel tourism; PVP Ma. Miguel Guerrero, Tesoro's International- shopping tourism; Kingson Sian of Travellers International Hotel Group for integrated hotel casino resort; and Cresencio "Bum" Tenorio, Jr. - tourism and lifestyle, Philippine Star.*CGS

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