Pangasinan is fast becoming one of the main tourist destinations in the Philippines given the extensive infrastructure projects that have been implemented as well as those still being constructed by the administration of Gov. Ramon “Mon-mon” Guico III.
One of these is the 42.76-kilometer Phase 1 (Binalonan to Lingayen) of the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) that will connect major areas in the province and its neighboring towns.
“This is precisely our dream — to make our beloved province a major tourist destination in the country, and this will not be far off because we continue to build many facilities to further attract people, including foreign tourists,” said Guico.
Once PLEX becomes operational, Guico said the previously five-hour travel time from Manila to Hundred Islands in Alaminos City and other popular beaches in the province will be reduced to just three hours.
“We are laying the foundation and planting the seeds for the near future and for the far future. So, I think this administration will make it smart as the builder of the excellent and new Pangasinan. That’s what we want to happen,” Guico said.
“We still have many projects lined up to further transform our province into a top tourist attraction, but one term is not enough to implement them and we can do it because we are all united,” the governor added.
Guico is currently running for a second term in the upcoming elections on May 12, 2025.
Under his helm, the provincial government has previously implemented the conversion of the historic Casa Real into a large museum, the Bańaan (Tagpuan) Provincial Museum; the construction of a multi-level parking lot in Manaoag, Bolinao Airport and the largest Reflecting Pool and Interactive Fountain in Lingayen; the beautification and preservation of Malico, the summer capital of the province; the development of a large eco park in the town of Bugallon; the use of so-called seaplanes for faster travel from Manila to the province; and the Laoac Dairy Farm.
The number of tourist arrivals has continued to increase over the past three years.
The volume of foreign tourists is also expected to go up further due to the modern facilities and other attractions.
Data from the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office showed there were 8,685,980 day tourists last year, compared to 5,597,867 in 2022.
“With more than 10-million tourists now visiting major tourist destinations like Manaoag, Bolinao and Alaminos, we can say that we have recovered from the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism industry in the province has regained its vitality,” Guico said.
The provincial government is also building an 11-storey government center and a 1,500-seater convention center, both located near the capitol.
It also partnered with the Department of Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for the groundbreaking and construction of the Pangasinan Tourism Rest Area.