ALAMINOS CITY, Philippines – Tourists arrivals to the Hundred Islands National Park, one of Pangasinan’s top attractions, increased significantly last year, an official said yesterday.
A total of 364,577 local and foreign tourists visited Hundred Islands in 2015, Solomon Tablang, head of the city tourism office, told The STAR. The figure was higher by 72 percent from the 262,458 tourists who visited Hundred Islands in 2014. About 10 percent of the visitors were foreigners, mostly Koreans.
Tablang expects visitor arrivals to further increase this year.
He said the local government collected P28 million from entrance fees of P40 and P80 per person for daytime and overnight rates, respectively. The money will be used to improve the facilities of the Hundred Islands National Park.
Tablang cited the local government under Mayor Arthur Celeste for continuously implementing improvements in the city’s tourist destination.
The Hundred Islands National Park boasts of crystal clear waters surrounding the myriad islands, believed to have been formed about two million years ago, totaling 124 at low tide and 123 at high tide, scattered around Lingayen Gulf covering an area of 16.76 square kilometers. It has a white sand beach, limestone rocks and cliffs and rich marine life.
Lucap Wharf, the jump-off point to the park, is about 240 kilometers north of Manila.
Aside from swimming, visitors can enjoy various activities such as ziplines, kayaking, helmet diving, snorkeling, cliff diving and visiting and exploring the islands on a boat.