SERVING TOURISTS President Marcos and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco lead the inauguration of the Vacationer Relaxation Space on Saud Seaside in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, on Friday. The power, the primary established in northern Luzon, is a flagship venture of the Division of Tourism to serve native and overseas vacationers.—MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Boasting that “there isn’t a place within the Philippines that isn’t stunning,” President Marcos on Friday stated he was eyeing a tenfold enhance within the variety of “balikbayan” vacationers visiting the nation.
On the inauguration of a vacationer relaxation space on the pristine seaside at Barangay Saud in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, the President stated the federal government would proceed enhancing journey, transportation and vacationer infrastructure to show the nation into Asia’s “tourism powerhouse.”
Marcos famous that the 1989 Balikbayan program—which permits former Filipino residents and abroad Filipinos to remain within the Philippines for one yr and luxuriate in journey tax exemptions and duty-free purchasing privileges—initially focused a million returning Filipinos as vacationers.
“Now we’re focusing on 10 occasions that. We’ve began to strategy that, however there are lots of points to tourism. It’s not simply the gorgeous seaside, it’s not simply the gorgeous relaxation home or the great resorts and the resorts that they keep in however it’s additionally the convenience of which they journey round, the entry that they’ve. We’re enhancing our regional airports and ports for that,” he stated.
For 2024, the Division of Tourism (DOT) had set a goal of seven.7 million overseas vacationers, near its 2019 inbound determine of 8.26 million vacationer arrivals earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.
As of April 24, the DOT had recorded 2,010,522 vacationer arrivals, of which 1,894,076 or 94.21 p.c had been foreigners. This translated to P157.62 billion in tourism receipts from January to March 31.
The President reassured that the federal government would repeatedly enhance infrastructure resembling transport hubs, regional airports and roads other than creating vacationer spots in order that extra vacationers—Filipinos and foreigners alike—will go to the Philippines’ stunning surroundings.
“The Philippines is actually stunning, in all places you look. Nicely, possibly not the cities. However as soon as you allow the town, you see the actual Philippines. There is no such thing as a place [like] the Philippines. That’s our capital; let’s take full benefit of that,” Marcos stated.
Selling north Luzon
In his house province of Ilocos Norte, he stated the federal government would reassess and promote varied dive locations within the coastal cities of Pagudpud, Badoc and Currimao.
He stated Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco could be in a very good place on the best way to encourage extra vacationers to go up north for diving journeys.
“We couldn’t have a greater proponent than our secretary, who comes from Cebu, among the finest, if not the very best, dive locations on the planet. She herself is a diver, so she is aware of precisely the way it’s imagined to work,” he stated.
He additionally promoted the province’s different scenic, world-class spots just like the Paoay Church, Paoay Sand Dunes, Malacanang of the North, the white sand seaside of Saud in Pagudpud and the pristine rivers of Adams, which he stated could be excellent for rafting and kayaking.
Marcos stated the federal government was additionally creating the Ilocos and Pangasinan Regional Historic Path to honor and protect the Ilocos area’s wealthy historical past and tradition.
The vacationer relaxation space inaugurated in Pagudpud is the primary of its form in northern Luzon. There are eight different vacationer relaxation areas in Palawan, Cebu, Bukidnon and Samal Island.
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These services provide free snug seats and resting areas, restrooms and bathe areas, cell phone charging stations and an space the place they’ll purchase the province’s native wares and delicacies as “pasalubong.”
