TOURISM
    For the year 2003, a total of 4,135 foreign tourists were in Bacolod City. A decrease of 8,931 or 68% as compared to 2002 of 13,066 which is an indication that the tourism industry in the city is growing and drawing more and more of the international tourists.
     Existing tourist attractions in Bacolod are the 120 year old San Sebastian Cathedral, the century old Palacio Episcopal, the Bishop’s House which was formerly the official residence of the Spanish Governor General in the Island of Negros during the Spanish Era. The Provincial Capitol Building which was constructed on June 2, 1927 and considered as one of the most beautiful and grandiose provincial capitol buildings in the Philippines. The Japanese War Memorial Shrine at Rosario Heights Subdivision, the Showroom of Negros Products, Samodal Woodshaving Shop and Anaware Ceramics, beaches, resorts. The Provincial Capitol Lagoon Park, cut flower and rose gardens, antique and art collections and many others.
     As of 2003, tourism facilities in Bacolod include 46 travel and tour agencies, 12 hotels and 10 tourist inns, 10 resorts and 16 pension houses that secured their permits with the Bacolod City Tourism Office (BCTO). Other data like disco bar and videoke, lodging houses, golf course and car rentals has no available data with the BCTO.
     The City has an existing Tourism and Cultural Development Committee (TCDC) that attends to the tourism related activities of Bacolod. Under the TCDC, a tourist reception desk manned by TCDC employee had been put up at the arrival area of the Philippine Airlines at the Bacolod Airport. This reception desk provide, brochures, and other tourism related information’s for the tourists. Under the TCDC, several tourism activities have been pushed or were supported by the city government.
    The MassKara Festival which falls on October 19 draws a huge crowd of domestic and international tourists, and brought millions of revenues for Bacolod. The city fiesta on January 20, the annual Santacruzan and Mayflower Festival also attracts local and foreign visitors. Bacolod has yet to come up with a museum housed in an ancestral house, and others. The project "Barangay Branding" was organized citywide. Visits and representation in other city fiestas and organized cultural groups were also done by the city.
     Apart from these, the promotion of Bacolod as "convention center" of Southern Philippines shall continue to circulate among friends and organizations of previous conventions to the city were satisfied with the facilities and amenities that Bacolod can offer.
     Bacolod City created the Tourism Office by virtue of City Ordinance No. 158 on February 7, 1996. The Bacolod City Tourism Office (BCTO), a division administratively under the City Mayor’s Office became functional on March 14, 1997 with the appointment of a Chief Tourism Operations Officer and the eventual filling up of other positions provided for in the plantilla. This office attends to the different tourism activities of the City.

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1. The Negros Showroom
   A must for every visitor is a visit to the Negros Showroom, a one-stop showcase for handicrafts and other treasures manufactured by members of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP). The Showroom has been declared by the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions as the top trade house in the country. 
2. Samodal's Woodshave
   At Samodal's Woodshave, seemingly useless woodshaving from Palochina wood are utilized to make beautiful floral creations. What is significant about the business is that the owner of the place started with only about P20.00 worth of materials which eventually grew to become an export-oriented business.
3. Anaware Ceramics
   Anita Feria, owner of the Anaware Ceramics is an enterprising woman who pioneered in ceramics business in Bacolod City. A visit to the main factory can be arranged for a fascinating insight into the world of Ceramics production.
4. Pottery village in Pahanocoy
   Like the ones found at Sitio Maninihon in the North of Bacolod, the Pahanocoy potteries also display and put to exhibition the various clay products produced in this barangay located 7 kms. south of downtown Bacolod.
5. Bacolod Shellcraft and Artwares
   Located some 4 kms. from downtown Bacolod and a stone throw from the Bacolod Air Terminal is the Bacolod Shellcraft and Artwares. Here, shells of various species and their natural colors are crafted into fine pieces of shellcraft art. The owner, Mrs. Leticia Ledesma also did the collage of shells for the mural of the Sta. Clara Chapel.

     AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES
     The City of Bacolod as the center of commerce, trade and industry, is also the center which agricultural products from neighboring towns and cities as well as the province, pass through for distribution to other outlets and consumers. The City, "imports", so to speak, its requirement for rice, vegetables, spices and other agricultural and farm products from neighboring towns, cities, and islands like Guimaras, Cebu, Canlaon, Bantayan or Panay. Alangilan, Granada, Felisa and Sum-ag are the barangays that provide vegetables and other farm produce for Bacoleños, but most of these came from Alangilan. Bacolod is dependent for its survival from "imported" agricultural products.
     Total land area devoted to sugarcane is 7,216.00 hectares. The City Agriculture Office recorded a total of 915.00 has. planted to rice for the year 2003 compared with the previous year of 1,077.10 hectares. Rice is still the staple food of the city but the city also imports rice, vegetables, spices and other agricultural farm products to meet the increasing demand of food supply of rice to its people.
     Majority of the agricultural land of the city is planted to sugarcane, 7,216 hectares. Following sugarcane is rice – 1,077.10 has., corn – 34.0 has., root crops – 82.0 has.; assorted vegetables – 120.0 has.; coconut – 100.00 has.; banana - 43 has.; orchard - 28 has. and spices – 22 has.
     Bacolod has a fishing ground located in the radius between Bacolod and Guimaras and it has several "Komisyonan" where buy & sell transactions occur. Pala-Pala" markets are located in Banago, Villa Esperanza, Tangub, Pahanocoy and Punta Taytay. One main market is located at the Provincial Food Terminal along San Juan St. and North Capitol Road. Eight public markets are located in North-Burgos Market, South-Libertad Market, Central Market, People’s Market, Sum-ag, Granada Public Market, Mansilingan and Villamonte. Ten (10) Talipapa or mini markets are found in Brgys. 9 and 31 and rural barangays of Tangub, Singcang, Banago, Bata, Mandalagan, Monte Vista, Handumanan and Punta Taytay. Supply of fishes are sold likewise at the city public markets came from the North - Sagay, Victorias, Cadiz, Silay and Talisay and from the South - Sipalay, Hino-baan, Cauayan, Ilog, Aguisan-Himamaylan and Hinigaran.
     Due to rapid growth of population and majority of the agricultural land area is planted to sugar the city imports much of its food requirements from neighboring towns, cities and islands (e.g. Canlaon, Bantayan and Guimaras).

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    Table 2 shows that Bacolod has an agricultural land area of 8,560 hectares equivalent to 52.97% of the total land area of the city which is 16,145 has., of this 7,216 hectares or 84.30% is devoted to sugarcane plantations, 915 hectares or 10.70% to rice and 1.4% to assorted vegetables and the rest is planted with root crops, coconut, banana, orchard and spices.
     Due to this scenario, the City has only supplied an estimated 9% of the requirements of its populace for rice and 10% for vegetable.
     The City Government of Bacolod thru the City Department of Agriculture is tasked to increase its internal capacity to procude by implementing developmental programs, projects and services such as promoting the use of high yielding varieties coupled by the introduction of modern technology, expansion of irrigated areas for rice; utilizing the vacant and idle lots in the urban area and in school premises for the production of vegetables, provision of pre and post harvest facilities in the rural areas and implementation of local and national policies which are necessary for the welfare of this sector that will eventually propel and boost internal economic activities in the city.

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ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE
     Public Markets
     There are three (3) public markets existing in Bacolod City: (1) the Central Market located on Luzuriaga Street in the heart of the city, (2) the South Public market located on Hernaez (Libertad) Street, and (3) the North Public Market located on Burgos Street. Each market is under the supervision of a Market Master who reports directly to the City Administrator.
     The Central Market has a total land area of 4,763 square meters with 823 stalls and commercial doors, for meat, fish, and vegetables and dry goods section.
     The South Public Market has 823 commercial spaces and stalls for meat, fish, vegetables and dry section.
     The North Public Market has a land area of 4,164 square meters comprising of 746 commercial spaces and stalls for meat, fish, vegetables, and dry goods section, among others.
     The public markets serve as hubs for business activity and are surrounded by private commercial buildings and other buildings. Smaller markets are operated by Barangay Villamonte, Mansilingan, Granada, and Sum-ag. Smaller version of markets, or "Talipapa" may be found on Araneta Street at Barangay Singcang, Gatuslao Street at the back of the Provincial Capitol Building, Santo Niño Stop, Lacson Street-Bangga Mountain View, and in other Barangays of the City.
    As of 2003, the markets including Manokan Country had a gross income of P 8,852,198.12 as compared to 2002 of P 9,449,666.65. Central Market has the biggest income of P 3,401,027.42 or 38.42 percent of the total gross income among the four public markets.

                             LIBERTAD MARKET:

                           NUMBER OF VENDORS:

                           BURGOS MARKET:

                                   NUMBER OF VENDORS:

                         CENTRAL MARKET

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Fish Markets
     There are two fish markets in the city:
1. The Banago Fish Market or "Pala-Pala" and
2. The Negros Occidental Food Terminal Market on North Capitol Road also known as "Pala-Pala". Transaction like buying and selling sea produce occur in these markets. However, outside its periphery is an informal market where sea products, vegetables and meat could also be bought.
     Fresh fish is also available in leading supermarkets and in a privately owned market in Brgy. Villamonte.
Slaughterhouse
     The City Slaughterhouse located on Alunan Street beside the Lupit River was built in 1938 and renovated in 1950 . The city is, at present, working to equip and operationalize a modern abattoir that was constructed in Brgy. Handumanan.

Table 4. ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED
City Veterinarian’s Office, Bacolod City - 1999-2003

COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
     Bacolod boasts of two major malls, Robinson’s Place in the North, and Gaisano City in the South. . Smaller shopping malls and arcades such as Plaza Mart City Mall, Lourdes Center II, Atrium Arcade, Carmela Arcade, Barangay Sang Virgen Arcade, Era Mall, and Pacita Arcade are found in the downtown area and in the vicinity of the University of St. La Salle. The city’s department stores include the locally owned Lopues chain with stores in Mandalagan, Araneta St., San Sebastian St., Lopues East, and Lopues South Square, Gaisano-Bacolod, and Servando's Department Store.
Sea Ports and Airport
     The Banago Port and the BREDCO Port in the Reclamation serve as the berthage point for domestic and international vessels carrying goods and products to and from Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
     The Bacolod Airport also serves as a point of entry of goods and products for Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
Storage Plant, Industries and Others
     Privately owned warehouses for food, construction materials, agricultural supplies, and others are located within the city. Ice and cold storage facilities are provided by the Bacolod Ice Plant and Cold Storage to residents and commercial establishments. Ice cream companies and meat processing plants have their own cold storage facilities, however.
     There are four (4) soft drink bottling companies, and one (1) beer brewery - San Miguel Brewery at Santa Fe. The city also has several foundry shops, steel processing companies, furniture manufacturers, and others. The food and cottage industry sectors are the pride of the City.

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