All set for the Yamaha Pan-ASEAN Tour

By ELI C. DALUMPINES
May 5, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  – Authorities here have already made preparations to welcome participants of the Yamaha Pan-ASEAN Tour which will pass the Eastern Visayas region this May 17-18.

In a coordinative meeting initiated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Wednesday, local government officials of towns situated along the Maharlika Highway, police authorities and the local media have laid out plans in welcoming the tour participants.

These preparations include securing of the tour route, hanging of welcome streamers, displaying souvenir items and local delicacies and entertaining the participants with cultural presentations.

To recall, about 20 professional and media riders from ASEAN countries took off last November in Indonesia for the Yamaha Tour to launch Yamaha’s latest model, the T135, while at the same time promote ASEAN’s tourism industry.

Included in its route were Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines. Tour participants are expected to arrive in Cebu on May 15, this month, and it will pass through Eastern Visayas via Isabel, Leyte on May 17-18.

DOT Regional Director Karen Tiopes said this is an opportunity to promote the region as a travel and summer destination of our ASEAN neighbors.