ILOILO – Tourist spots in northern Iloilo – mostly island beaches boasting of white-sand shores and pristine waters – are ready to welcome vacationers this Lent, according to the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO).
Accommodation establishments there have been preparing their facilities for weeks as they expect an influx of vacationers, said PTO chief Gilbert Marin.
Among the popular tourist destinations in northern Iloilo are the following:
* Calabazas Island in Barangay Nasidman, Ajuy
* Agho Island in Barangay Igbon, Concepcion
* Bago Alas or Colebra Islet in Sitio Lo-ong, Barangay Polopina, Concepcion
* Malangabang Island in barangays Malangabang and Salvacion in Concepcion
* Cabugao Dako in Gigantes Sur in Carles
* Cabugao Gamay in Gigantes Sur, Carles
* Tangke in Barangay Gabi in Gigantes Sur, Carles
* Bantique Island in Gigantes Sur, Carles
* Ojatras Island in Gigantes Sur, Carles
* Antonia Point in Gigantes Sur in Barangay Gabi, Carles
* Marbuena Island or Binongan-an Island in Ajuy
* Nasidman Island in Barangay Nasidman, Ajuy
According to Marin, “96 percent” of tourists visiting these destinations were domestic.
“This Holy Week expected siya nga madamo bisita it’s because summer season,” he said.
For its part, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 has established information/assistance desks in airports, ports and tourism sites to ensure that Iloilo and other parts of Western Visayas are more fun and safe during Lent.
Regional Director Helen Catalbas said this effort is in line with DOT’s mandate to promote the Philippines as a tourist destination while ensuring that tourists will have access to essential information and will be provided needed assistance for their travel.
On April 18-21 the information/assistance desks in Iloilo City will be at Ortiz and Parola wharves, the main entry point going to Guimaras province.
There will be also one at the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo on April 17-21 except on April 19 when there are no scheduled flights.
In Aklan, the desk is located at the Kalibo International Airport and Caticlan Jetty Port while in Antique, it is situated in front of the Antique Provincial Capitol.
DOT-6 staff will also provide assistance in Capiz especially at the Agtalin Shrine in the town of Pilar and Our Lady of Lourdes in Roxas City.
In Negros Occidental, there will be an information desk at the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
In the province of Guimaras, information desks are at Jordan Wharf, Buenavista Wharf and in the Balaan Bukid, Barangay Hoskyn, Jordan town.
Besides the information/assistance desks, DOT personnel will also be assigned to conduct mobile monitoring of pilgrimage sites and tourism destinations in the region./PN
