THE tourism industry of Negros Occidental is slowly getting back on its feet with the increasing number of guests visiting resorts and similar sites in the province, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.”We’re hoping that our tourism industry will pick up again,” Lacson said.Before the pandemic, the province is next to Boracay Island in Aklan in the number of visitors, he said.Lacson added that it is the same scenario that they would like to reach again.Negros Occidental Tourism Division records showed that resorts and other tourism establishments in the province, which are mostly privately owned, have occupancy rates nearing the numbers before the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic hit.”On our part, we have opened Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary again. More people are visiting there. We intend on improving the facilities of the resort,” the governor added.Rebranded as the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary, the provincial government-owned destination in Murcia town is one of the top tourist destinations in the province.Overnight stays at the resort are already allowed starting Sunday, May 1.On April 20, it was opened anew to accommodate the summer crowd for the first time in two years.It was first reopened in December 2021 but was closed after the resort was damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.”Mambukal is like a symbol of our tourism (and) by having a soft opening, we’re saying that we’re also opening up our tourism, but of course, we continue to ask our visitors to still practice our minimum health protocols,” Lacson said.The southern city of Sipalay, dubbed the “Jewel of the Sugar Island,” has also slowly recovered from the health crisis and the destruction of Typhoon Odette.The province’s number one in terms of overnight tourist data, Sipalay is known for its beautiful beaches and breathtaking dive sites that draw both foreign and domestic tourists all year round.During the 2021 Negros Occidental Tourism Excellence Awards, it was awarded as the Most Prepared Local Government Unit in Tourism on Covid-19 Responsiveness.In the north, San Carlos City, with its white sand beaches in Sipaway Island, is also a top tourist destination, placing second in overnight tourist data.