Ilocanos welcome back Chinese tourists

The chartered flight from China touches down at LIA (DOT photo)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—Amid the simmering territorial dispute between China and the Philippines, Chinese tourists arrived at the Laoag International Airport om June 13, signaling the return of the Guangzhou-Laoag chartered flights.

Carrying more than a hundred passengers, the inaugural flight of the 156-seater China Eastern Airlines touched down at the Laoag airport at about 11:30 am on June 13.

As Ilocano dancers and drummers welcomed passengers in a festive grand airport welcome reception, Ma. Milagros Gonzales, provincial director of the Department of Tourism Laoag sub-office said the resumption of chartered flights here will certainly boost the local tourism industry.

Over a hundred Chinese tourists arrived at the Laoag International Airport as they are warmly welcomed by Ilocanos led by the Department of Tourism officials along with Ilocos Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos and Laoag City officials led by Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas and Vice Mayor Michael V. Fariñas. (Photo courtesy of DOT Laoag sub-office)

Initiated by the Guangdong International Travel Group, Chinese tourists are likely to be visible again in this northern part of Luzon to visit Ilocos Norte’s cinematic landscapes and various tourism destinations as they will be billeted at a five star hotel here to play golf and casino.

With the recent improvement and expansion of the Laoag airport, the DOT hopes to attract more charterers to Laoag City.

Starting June 13, chartered flights from Guangzhou to Laoag and vice versa will be on a twice weekly basis.

The LIA used to receive Chinese and Taiwanese tourists on regular chartered flights from Guangzhou and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Over the years, however, the number of chartered flights and the arrival of Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean tourists in Laoag declined.

In 2010, direct flights from Hong Kong to Laoag were canceled following the hostage-taking at Luneta Park in Manila that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

Comments

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog