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| TOURISTS pose in front of the iconic Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol. (Alaric Yanos) |
By John Michael Mugas
PGIN-CMO
More than 400,000 day tourists spent their Holy Week in Ilocos Norte,
topping the 232,678 recorded last year, revealed by Ilocos Norte Tourism Office
(INTO).
During
an interview, INTO head Aianree Raquel disclosed that the surge of tourists
during the holidays last week meant a 91.24% increase translating to 444,980
day tourists compared to last year.
“The
day tourists are counted by our personnel who are deployed in the 32 tourist
centers and sites in the province,” said Mr. Raquel explaining that the day
tourists are the ones who only visit the attractions in the province without
the intention to stay in hotels and related establishments for a night.
Meanwhile,
Mr. Raquel also revealed the 33.33% increase recorded by the accommodation
registry from 49,518 in 2015 to 66,024 this year, noting that most hotel,
homestays and other accommodation establishments registered at INTO were all
fully-booked.
The
northern tourist trail received the highest number of visitors this Holy Week
with the Burgos Lighthouse Museum receiving 137,737; followed by the Bangui
Windmills with 61,363 tourists; resorts in Balaoi, Pagudpud at 33,068; with
Patapat Bridge and Paraiso ni Anton also in Pagudpud at 33,068.
INTO’s
data also showed that the Marcos Heritage Trail consistently received a high
number of arrivals with the Marcos Museum welcoming 39,012 visitors and
Malacañang of the North drawing 14,516 tourists. The UNESCO World-Heritage
Paoay Church also recorded 19,959 visitors.
“Putok
na putok ang probinsya natin noong Semana Santa,” beamed Ilocos Norte
Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos as she sees the rise in tourist arrivals
translates to the development of the local economy by paving the way to the
creation of meaningful jobs for Ilocanos.
Mr.
Raquel, however, admitted that the high number of tourist posed several
challenges especially in the maintenance of facilities despite being “impressed
and overwhelmed” with Ilocos Norte’s performance last week.
“We
have observed during Holy Week the certain areas that we have to work and we
now have to consider the high volume of arrivals in the planning and
construction of our new [tourism] infrastructures,” he added.
Attaining
its goal of steady growth through the years, Mr. Raquel
expressed his gratitude to the private sector and organizations like the Bakers
Restaurant Association in Ilocos Norte for their continuing cooperation with
the provincial government.
“The
support of our partners has always been a big help in improving the quality of
services and in achieving our goals,” said Mr. Raquel who also cited the
contribution of the 300 tourist aides employed in Paoay Kumakaway! Summer Employment Program.
Meanwhile,
hundreds of Ilocanos and tourists alike joined the revelries as Governor Marcos
led the launching of the ‘Ilocos Rocks’ in Currimao town on Black Saturday,
March 26.
Ilocos
Rocks is a concert series happening this summer which is aimed to enliven the
stunning rock formations in the province especially the ones in Culili in Paoay
town and the famous Kapurpurawan in Burgos town, said Raquel.
Caps
20160323-IM3P1590.jpg
Tourists
in front of the Paoay Church on March 23, 2016. (Alaric Yanos)
Ilocos Rocks-20160326-IM3P2559
Kokoi Baldo and Juan Gapang Band headline the Ilocos Rocks
concert held March 26, 2016 in Currimao, Ilocos Norte. (Alaric Yanos)
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