Clark Freeport, Pampanga”•The promotion of Central Luzon as one of the majors tourist destinations of the country is now a reality after 525 Chinese tourists visited this historic former military base on Wednesday.
The tourists on board of MV World Dream cruise ship made a port call in Subic Bay and visited the land-based tourism spots of the former American airbase.
On board 15 luxury buses, they toured the different spots of the sprawling Freeport like the Nayon Filipino, Clark Museum, souvenir shops, parade ground, barn houses, historical buildings, White House, Mimosa Filinvest Leisure Estate, Bicentennial Park, K9 cemetery among others.
Their cruise ship is docked at the Alava Wharf in Subic, Zambales.
At the Clark Museum, the tourists were treated with 35 minutes film showing on the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 in 4D.
The China National Tourism Administration statistics show that about 130 million Chinese travel overseas in 2017.
To cater for more tourists and investments in the region, Subic Freeport is now engaged in capacity building to attract cruise ships to make port of call in the area.
Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Clark Development Corporation including Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the Phil-Diliman Confucius Institute to educate officials and employees on the customs and language of the Chinese tourists visiting the country.
The integration of the two former American bases as tourist spots was the effort of Noel Manakil, president and CEO of CDC and Atty. Wilma T. Eisma, chairperson and administrator of SBMA, the regional officer of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and tourist agencies for the benefit of the tourists.