The Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) held its 1st Quarter Board Meeting in Baguio City from February 19-23, 2025. The first two and a half days were dedicated to a Strategic Planning Workshop, expertly facilitated by Prof. Maricel Gatchalian Badilla (UP-AIT). This session was crucial for formulating new vision and mission statements, as well as key objectives, to ensure ATOP’s continued relevance and competitiveness in the growth of the Philippine tourism industry.
Baguio, the host city for this year’s National Convention, also played a pivotal role in the discussions. City Tourism Officer Alec Mapalo joined us as we explored essential preparations and potential partnerships between the city and the association. There were also discussions with Baguio tourism stakeholders regarding a Pre-NatCon event—a fundraising activity—one of the key outcomes of the Strategic Planning Workshop. This event, the 1st President’s Cup, will take place from September 26-28, 2025. Additionally, the future partnership with UPLB’s PASEO’s Tourism Guidebook is now in the making. A Master Class for tourism officers from across the country is also planned for this year.
ATOP National President Junel Ann Divinagracia expressed her deep gratitude for the opportunity to strengthen the association’s direction. This planning process is a cornerstone of her legacy, ensuring that ATOP’s future activities, plans, and projects align with its mission to advance the tourism industry and support local tourism officers.