Locals and Orientals enliven 100 Islands tourism scene

If the tourism landscape of the 100 Islands looks rosy this early in summer, credit should go to our balikbayans, the government’s Lakbay Aral Program, and domestic tourism initiatives, and to some extent Orientals mostly Koreans, Japanese and Taiwanese, who never tire of the islands and its peace and mystical quite.

The few Caucasians, mostly Germans and tourists from the low countries, who went against the travel advisories of their governments, are happy for their decision.

The logical destination of these steady, if thin stream of tourists is the Department of Tourism (DoT)-accredited The Hundred Islands Resort Hotel (THIROH 2000) which is fully out-fitted with amenities for seminars and tour groups

In fact, THIROH 2000 was officially commended by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) for hosting the 60day live-in seminar in “Rural Regional Development Planning” attended by representatives from 39 countries early last year.

The varied geological typography has attracted the interest of many ecotourists who were enamored by the 100 Islands and its adjoining are

as, Anda, an island town; Bani and the Port town of Sual.

One of them is Girolano (Mimmo) Stassi, an Italian engineer working in Region 2 who kept coming back to the 100 Islands.

These ecology and environmental tourists have even suggested the staging of a 100 Islands Adventure or Ecology Challenge involving the towns of Anda and Bani and the City of Alaminos.

Such a project will invit

e worldwide participation and make the 100 Islands into an international tourist destination, Engr. Stassi said.

A project committee of the Western Pangasinan Tourism Caucus, an active component of the Pangasinan Tourism Council (PTC) headed by Arch. Teddy Ferrer, president of the 100 Islands Scuba Diving Association, is drawing up the project plan.

Such a project will require the support of the DoT and the local governments of Western Pangasinan.