PTA pushes tourism dev’t projects

The government is finding a “new Boracay” in an effort to boost tourism revenues and generate employment in the countryside, according to Mark Lapid, acting Philippine Tourism Authority general manager.

In an inspection of tourism sites in the provinces, Lapid said his office aims to duplicate the record of Boracay which tremendously revived tourism in the Visayan region and provided jobs to many people.

Lapid  said “it’s about time to  develop new tourism sites to realize the national goals of cultural awakening, environmental conservation, and employment creation.”

“The PTA has risen to push developments which have become anchors of progress if not simply for nature enjoyment. Fort Ilocandia, Pagudpud, Hundred Islands, Mt. Paet, Burnham Park, Agoo, and McArthur Park have already been turned over to their respective local governments and are now key destinations for both local and foreign tourists.”

He said currently, the PTA runs the Banaue Hotel & Youth Hostel (Banaue, Ifugao), Hilaga Tourism Village (San Fernando, Pampanga), Balicasag Island Dive Resort (Panglao, Bohol), Club Intramuros (Intramuros, Manila), Zamboanga Golf Course & Beach Resort, Intramuros and Rizal Bagumbayan Light & Sound Museum, PTA Tent Clamshell, MacArthur Park Beach Resort, and Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village among others.

“We are now prepping up  operations of PTA-developed and supervised income-generating projects to attract foreign and local investors to acquire or buy these projects,” he said.