Palawan has set an ambitious goal: to welcome five million tourists every year. Today, most visitors travel through its well-established hubs in Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron. To reach that target and share the economic benefits more widely, Palawan needs another major tourism anchor. That role has long been envisioned for San Vicente.
With its vast and untouched Long Beach, the laid-back charm of Port Barton, and the scenic, mountain-framed coastlines of New Canipo, San Vicente has what other destinations lack: land, scale, and natural beauty ready for sustainable development. Yet despite major public investments, including the opening of the San Vicente Airport in 2009, the town remains underdeveloped. The main reason lies in limited tourist access and an ecosystem that’s still maturing.
A Stopover, Not Yet a Destination
According to research by Leechiu Property Consultants, San Vicente welcomed over 90,400 overnight visitors in 2023, including 69,500 foreign tourists and just 20,900 domestic travelers.
This imbalance shows that San Vicente has not yet evolved into a true destination—it currently serves more as a stopover. Many local tourists use the town as a convenient break on the five-hour land journey between Puerto Princesa and El Nido.
Still, the relatively low number of domestic visitors represents a significant opportunity. The Philippine tourism industry has long been anchored by local travelers, and San Vicente’s low domestic penetration points to a large, untapped market that could drive its next phase of growth.
Early pioneers like Club Agutaya and Hotel Elizabeth have built a solid foundation, while large-scale projects such as Paragua Coastown reflect growing investor confidence. Yet, the destination still lacks the diversity of activities, dining options, and amenities needed to encourage longer stays and repeat visits.
The Runway Holds the Key
At the heart of San Vicente’s growth challenge is one simple issue: the airport runway. Measuring only 1,600 meters, it can handle small turboprop planes but not larger jet aircraft. This limitation keeps air traffic low and forces most travelers into that long, five-hour land journey.
If Palawan truly wants to reach its five-million-tourist goal, this bottleneck must be addressed. Extending the runway to around 2,200 to 2,400 meters would allow regional jets to land directly in San Vicente. That change could turn the town from a stopover into a key tourism gateway for the province.
A longer runway would also open the door for direct international flights from major Asian cities within a five-hour radius. With improved access, global hotel chains and investors would finally see the demand needed to justify large-scale, high-quality developments—from beach resorts to activity hubs.
Planning for Sustainable Growth
San Vicente offers something rare in Philippine tourism: a clean slate. Unlike other destinations that expanded quickly and suffered from congestion or poor planning, San Vicente still has the chance to shape its own future.
As development gains momentum, all stakeholders should take lessons from other destinations. From hotels to drainage systems and roads, infrastructure must be designed to last and to protect the environment. Sustainable and climate-resilient planning should guide every phase of growth. The goal is to ensure that San Vicente thrives without compromising the natural assets that make it special in the first place.
If done right, San Vicente can become Palawan’s next major growth engine—a model for how accessibility, investment, and sustainability can come together to build a world-class destination.
(The author is senior manager for hotels, tourism, and leisure at Leechiu Property Consultants).
