DOT to promote Ilocos Norte, Sur tourist spots

4x4 adventure at Laoag City's La Paz Sand Dunes (Photo courtesy of LEAD Movement)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—The Department of Tourism (DOT)-Laoag sub-office announced that they will promote Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur tourist destinations this summer.

DOT-Laoag sub-office senior tourism operations officer-in-charge Ma. Milagros Gonzales said her office has started the distribution of brochures for the two provinces, including possible itineraries.

The itinerary serves as guide for tourists to do away with tour guides as it locates and describes tourist spots. Travel time from place to place is also indicated as well as the time to be spent for every attraction.

The itinerary

From Manila, the itinerary’s first stop is Vigan City, which is now in the Top & Wonders of the World. The major tourist attractions here include the Burgos Museum, Calle Crisologo, St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza Burgos, Plaza Salcedo, Syquia Mansion, pagburnayan [jar factory] and Baluarte.

After Vigan, the itinerary prescribes travelling to southern Ilocos Norte to visit the Juan Luna Museum, Virgen Milagrosa De Badoc, Marcos Museum and Mausoleum, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Paoay Church, Malacañang of the North, Paoay Lake National Park, Paoay Golf Course, Paoay Sand Dunes, the Pangil Coral Formations in Currimao and Sitio Remedios.

A travel to Laoag City is next where the top destinations are the Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino, the Ilocos Norte Museum, St. Williams Cathedral, Laoag Sinking Bell Tower, Tobacco Monopoly Monument, Aurora Park and the La Paz Sand Dunes.

A tour to eastern and northern Ilocos Norte is next. The tour brings visitors to the Sta. Monica Church in Sarrat; St. Andrew Parish Church, Bacarra Belltower, Museo De Bacarra, all in Bacarra; Cape Bojedor Lighthouse, Kapurpurawan Rock and Kaangrian Falls in Burgos, and the Bangui Windmill.

The last stop in the itinerary is Pagudpud where the white beaches of Ilocos Norte is located. The Pagudpud tour features the Saud Beaches, the Blue Lagoon in Caparispisan and zip lines, the Patapat Viaduct, Paraiso Ni Anton and Timmangtang Rock.

Ms. Gonzales said Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte do not only have beautiful and attractive tourist spots but also have affordable and beautiful hotels and accommodations. On top of this native Ilocano foods such as bagnet, longganisa and native delicacies are also featured.

She further stressed that most of all both Ilocos provinces are peaceful and orderly and thus safe for tourists.

Tourism centers

Ms. Gonzales also said that tourism centers—either full blown centers, booths or kiosks—will be placed along the national highway and major thoroughfares in the province. These will be manned by local government personnel, police officers and barangay officials and which will serve as both assistance and information provider.

Fully booked

Ms. Gonzales also disclosed that information reaching their office indicate that all hotels in the province are fully booked for the Lenten and summer season.

She added that they have also started sending communication to all local government units in the province reminding them about the precautionary measures on beach and river resorts. Foremost of which is having their own lifeguards.

Tourism information center

Meanwhile, the DOT regional office recently stated that Ilocos Norte was chosen as one of the locations for the establishment of Tourism Information Centers for Luzon.

Ms. Gonzales said that the information centers will be put up in Sarrat, Burgos and Nueva Era. The project will be funded by the national government.

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