By Cebu Daily News

ROXAS CITY, Philippines–A Capiz provincial board member wants to capitalize on the province’s abundant seafood as a come-on for tourists.

In a privilege speech last Thursday, Provincial Board Member Alfonso Bediones Jr. appealed to hotels, resorts, restaurants and utility vehicle operators to improve their facilities and services to make Capiz more attractive to tourists.

Bediones noted that the tourism receipts of Capiz reached P592 million in 2006.

He said the province should maximize its strength as the country’s seafood capital.

Bediones, who chairs the provincial board’s committee on tourism, said they would implement the Seafood Trip Tourism campaign to generate more tourists.

An increase in tourist arrivals in the province would result in higher revenues, he added.

Bediones said they came up with the new strategy after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suggested, during a recent visit to Capiz, that the province come up with a strategy to attract visitors through its abundant seafood resources.