The city government plans to restore its reputation as the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital of Mindanao.
In a statement Thursday, City Tourism Officer Mark Jalapadan said the city government is preparing to develop a new Tourism Development Plan for 2026–2029.
The plan will focus on revitalizing Cagayan de Oro’s MICE branding to attract more investors in the tourism sector.
“The city can host 25,000 to 50,000 visitors at any time, supported by its growing hotels and resorts and the surrounding areas of Misamis Oriental, where Cagayan de Oro is the provincial hub,” he said.
Cagayan de Oro’s status as Mindanao’s MICE capital was put on hold in 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Jalapadan said the current development plan, which runs from 2022 to 2025, is scheduled to conclude in September, with a new roadmap to be crafted by October.
The new plan will also suggest incentives for hotels, malls, and restaurants, while establishing annual workshops in partnership with the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association to improve local industry standards. (PNA)