SBMA-Bataan, Angeles top tourist arrivals

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Angeles City and Zambales topped in the number of tourist arrivals in Central Luzon for 2014, the Department of Tourism has reported. It would be interesting to note that 75 percent of the total land area of SBMA belongs to the province of Bataan.

In a press statement, Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico disclosed that 3.1 million domestic and foreign travelers visited the region last year compared to 2.7 million in 2013 based on monthly survey reports submitted by accommodation establishments.

The Chinese topped the list of foreign travelers in Central Luzon at 390,431 or 12.5% followed by the Americans at 95,737 or 3.08%, Koreans at 55,692 or 1.8%, and Singaporeans at 31,200 or 1%.

“Subic Bay Freeport-Bataan and Zambales were the most visited places at 1.2 million arrivals followed by Clark Freeport, Pampanga and Angeles City- 621,000; while in a separate report 199,000 tourists were listed in Bataan; Bulacan – 109,000; and Aurora – 108,000,” Tiotuico stressed.

“The unprecedented increase in the number of tourists can be attributed to the significant developments in Clark and Subic Bay Freeports along with the recent infrastructure improvement at the Clark International Airport which enables it to accommodate as much as four million passengers,” Tiotuico explained.

As this developed, the Bataan Peninsula Tourism Council Foundation, Inc (BPTCFI) and the Provincial Tourism Center, headed by Mrs. Vicky Sandejas-Garcia and Ms.Techie Banzon respectively, have stepped up their tourism programs aimed at courting more tourists to visit Bataan.

Among the tourism sites being frequented by the tourists are the Las Casas resort hotel and beaches with crystal clear waters in Bagac and Morong towns; the Camaya Coast and Freeport Area of Bataan in Mariveles; the historic Mt. Samat in Pilar; the Sibul spring in Abucay; the wetland and nature park in Balanga City; the centuries old churches in Bataan, among others.