Tourism build-up for Antique, Guimaras

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is considering improving tourism destinations in Antique and Guimaras provinces.

“After Boracay Island, we are now looking at Antique and Guimaras,” said Jim Sampulna, DENR regional director for Western Visayas.

The world-famous resort island in Aklan, which geographically belongs to Western Visayas, has been in the limelight when it closed for a six-month clean-up.

Sampulna told Manila Bulletin DENR must take the lead in conducting a study that would be a blueprint for tourism-related developments in the two provinces.

For over a decade, Guimaras has been marketed as an alternative destination to Boracay because of its white-sand beaches and nearness to Iloilo City.

Antique is also an emerging ecotourist destination and the province is expected to attract more visitors after its airport opened for commercial operations last December.

Antique features the white sand beaches of Mararison Island in Culasi town, while Tibiao town has drawn visitors to its waterfalls, river and the jacuzzi-like “kawa” hot bath.

Sampulna, the chairperson of the Western Visayas Regional Ecotourism Committee (REC), said local governments must establish a system that ensures environmental preservation amid tourism.

“Boracay is a learning experience,” Sampulna said.