A Hundred European Tourists Visit Iloilo City

San Jose Church, Iloilo City, where novena masses are held
for the Dinagyang Festival

Early this October 2010, European tourists got the chance to tour Iloilo City and province during their visit Saturday after their cruise ship docked at the Iloilo International Seaport, in Loboc, La Paz district, the City Information Office said.

The cruise ship MS Hanseatic carried some 100 European tourists, the second to arrive in the city this year. MS Columbus was the first one to arrive last March.

MS Hanseatic is a five-star cruise ship owned by the Hapag-Lloyd shipping line in Germany. It is the only five-star expedition-cruise ship worldwide.

The visit of European tourists was a welcome development for the city’s tourism and investment promotion which is one of the priorities of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena said tourists find Iloilo City “one of the safest destinations in the country.”

The group toured the city and visited some churches in the city province such as the world-renowned Miagao Church and San Joaquin Church in the first district.

Arrangements to give way for another cruise ship to come to the city is currently on going, for a tour in January, just in time for the Dinagyang Festival.