DOT braces for tourist upsurge in Central Luzon
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is gearing up for the expected spike in tourist volume in the Central Luzon region.
DOT Central Luzon officerin-charge Carol de Guzman-Uy said the phenomenal rise in passenger volume at the Clark International Airport and the forthcoming increase in transport access to Northern Philippines (NorthPhil) resulting from the government’s Build Build Build program.
“Part of the BBB program is the construction of the SubicClark Railway, the North-South Railway spanning LagunaManila-Clark, and the expansion of the Clark International Airport,” Uy said, also pointing to the emergence of Subic as a hub for cruise ships.
Uy placed the number of Subic’s scheduled cruise ship arrivals this year at 20, each bringing in some 2,000 to 5,000 tourists at every port call.
She also cited an unprecedented surge in passenger traffic at Clark from 1.51 million in full-year 2017 to 1.54 million in just the first seven months of 2018.
“This trend alone shows that passenger volume may double or increase to at least 2.5 million by yearend as projected by the CIAC (Clark International Airport Corp.),” Uy pointed out.
She said the development in Clark of a 1,500-hectare industrial park could further increase tourism traffic to and from and around NorthPhil.
“Thus, the tourism industry is taking measures to beef up its absorptive capacity for both foreign and domestic tourists by striving to attract investments in hotel and resort facilities and room accommodations, and encourage telcos to enhance connectivity in the entire region, among others,” Uy stressed, referring to the staging of the NorthPhil Tourism and Travel Expo on Nov. 16 to 18 at the SM City Clark for that purpose.
Around 104 booths are available at the NorthPhil Expo 2018 to showcase the region’s tourism investment opportunities, attractions and destinations, conventions and events venues, products and travel services, package tours, and cultural, natural, educational, historical and leisure trips, among many others.