Bacolod city: Some 25 tour guides have been trained by the Department of Tourism-Negros Island Region (DOT-NIR) to engage visitors in meaningful experiences that showcase the history, heritage, and culture of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. After completing a seven-day Community Tourist Guiding Training, participants are now eligible as community tour guides and are processing their application for DOT accreditation.

According to Philippines News Agency, the training strengthened the skills of local tourism stakeholders in delivering engaging visitor experiences. The Provincial Tourism Division stated that this initiative serves as a significant step in promoting the Negros Culture Hub Tours, highlighting the rich history, heritage, and culture of Bacolod City and the province.

The tourist guiding training, organized by DOT-NIR in partnership with the Negros Occidental Tourism Division and Bacolod City Tourism Office, included lectures, workshops, and mock tour exercises. The tour guides also completed the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Program and pledged to uphold the principles of Filipino hospitality, service excellence, and cultural pride.

The provincial government offers the Negros Culture Hub Tours, comprising seven seamless, curated circuits designed to showcase the province's diversity through competitively priced, multi-stop guided tours for solo travelers or specialized groups. Among the training participants are Capitol tourism personnel, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)-Negros Station staff, private tour operator guides, and college students.

The PhilRice-Negros Station in Murcia town is a DOT-accredited farm tourism camp and an emerging destination within the Negros Culture Hub. DA-PhilRice Negros Director Ommal Abdulkadil expressed commitment to integrating culture and the arts into rice research, development, and tourism initiatives, emphasizing that each visitor experience not only showcases rice science and innovation but also celebrates the rich history and culture of Negros Island and its farming communities.