CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — The City Government of Puerto Princesa City expects an increase in tourist arrivals and cruise ship visits in celebration of the annual Subaraw Festival in the city and the province of Palawan.
During the opening ceremony on Friday, Mayor Lucilo Bayron said that the aim to make the event international is once again gaining ground after being slowed down by the pandemic in 2020.
“We are looking to slowly turn over the management of the event to our private partners and make the celebration bigger just like the Sinulog Festival. We are just waiting for them to be fully ready before we turn over,” Bayron said.
Bayron said that the activities lined-up will attract more tourists from outside the country.
Photographers participate in the 6th Wild Bird Photography Race on November 4. (Photo City Government of Puerto Princesa)
“We need to add more international events to attract more tourists from other countries. And this year, we have incorporated international events in the celebration– Wild Bird Photography Race, Ironman 70.3 Challenge, [and] International Dragon Boat Race. The Miss Subaraw is already a national event with the winner coming from Angeles, Pampanga and this year, we already have 10 foreign candidates,” said Bayron.
Norwegian Jewel and Silver Whisper arrives in Puerto Princesa City. (Photo courtesy of Palawan News)
Meanwhile, the city welcomed the arrival of the Norwegian Jewel on Saturday, November 4, carrying 3,000 passengers and crew, and the Silver Whisper with 600 guests and crew aboard.
In an interview with Palawan News, Department of Tourism (DOT) Mimaropa Regional Director Roberto Alabado III expressed optimism that the tourism industry, through cruise tourism, is once again gaining ground and becoming Asia’s leading cruise destination.
“Simula noong 2019 pa or before the pandemic, nakikita ng DOT na ang cruise tourism ay ang taas ng paglago o ‘yung pagtaas ng number ng cruise ships na pumunta dahil marahil ay nakita ng mga cruise companies na napakaganda ng Pilipinas,” said Alabado.
“Ang tawag nga natin dito dati, the Philippines is a green field na parang bagong diskubre nila kaya parami ng parami ang cruise liners na nakapila na para pumasok sa Pilipinas,” he added.
Furthermore, Alabado said that aside from destinations with developed ports, cruise ships can also dock offshore where tourists can be fetched by small boats and transported to the land.
“Aside from this, may mga pumunta rin na expedition cruise, maliliit na barko pero marami pa ring dalang turista. So sa pag-develop natin ng cruise tourism sa Palawan ay sisikapin natin na ma-introduce ang iba’t-ibang bahagi pa ng lalawigan kung saan ay pwede nilang dalawin at magkaroon ng cultural immersion ang ating mga turista para makita ang kagandahan hindi lang ng mga isla at beaches kundi maging ng kultura,” he explained.
The Subaraw Festival, which means suba (river) and taraw (limestone cliff), in recognition of the Puerto Princesa Underground River after it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and declared as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature of the World on November 11, 2011.
The celebration kicked-off in Sitio Sabang, Brgy. Cabayugan on November 3, and will end on November 19. (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)
Topmost photo courtesy of the City Government of Puerto Princesa
