VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — Thousands of foreign and local tourists continue to visit this world’s heritage city daily even after the Manila hostage crisis happened the other week. This was announced Wednesday by Vigan City Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina during the formal opening of the celebration of the UNESCO World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day.

“Our tourism industry is continuously booming as evidently shown by the presence of thousands of foreign and local tourists that are daily visiting our heritage city,” Medina said.

“Actually, visiting tourists in Vigan are the one buying volumes of our antique products and our ‘abel’ clothing products and delicious food delicacies that are rarely seen in other parts of our country,” she added.

In this year’s celebration of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day in Vigan, the lady mayor said that the festivity has been extended to one week starting Wednesday until September 12, 2010.

“We come to a weeklong celebration to showcase not only our products but also our native cultural presentations which are very attractive to our tourists,” she said.

It is said that September 8 is a very significant day for this city and other heritage cities in the world because on September 8, 1993, the organization of UNESCO’s World heritage cities was formed in Fez, Morocco.

The group served as an umbrella organization of all heritage towns and cities including Vigan that were inscribed by the UNESCO.

Meanwhile, most of the cultural events and contests will be held in the historic Plaza Burgos and the Vigan Culture and Trade Center (VCTC).

“Even if it is rainy, all activities of our celebration will be held as scheduled as we had prepared an alternative venue of the different events and contests,” she said. (Freddie G. Lazaro)