TOURISM - REGION III: CENTRAL LUZON

Data on tourism provide a panorama of the region as a tourist destination. The significance
of the picture presented by the data manifests the importance accorded to the tourism industry by
both national and local leaders. Specifically, tourism has become a twin source of foreign exchange
receipts and livelihood and employment opportunities for communities. Data on the industry are
therefore essential in providing vital links in the development and orchestration of campaigns aimed
at promoting the potentials of the region as a tourist hideaway. Local leaders can put up
infrastructure programs and institute policies and regulations that will boost the inflow of visitors.
Investors, on the other hand, can take the signals by developing tourist and recreational sites and
putting up establishments and amenities. In concrete terms, the data likewise provide a quantitative
measure of the results of programs that promote the area as a traveler's destination and the
industry's contributions to the economic performance of the area.
This chapter presents regional and/or provincial/city data on the visitor arrivals and their
countries of residence. The data source is the Department of Tourism.

Sector Highlights

The region welcomed 3.9 million tourists in 2017, lower by 5.9 percent compared with the
4.1 million guests in 2016.

 Domestic travelers, accounting for 90.0 percent of the total guests, increased by 6.1 percent
from the 3.3 million reported in 2016 to 3.5 million in 2017.
Foreign tourists, which comprised 9.4 percent of the total guests in the region declined by
55.3 percent in 2017.
Nationals of East Asia remained the biggest group of foreign tourists visiting the region,
accounting for 35.2 percent of foreign guests in 2017. The largest chunk of arrivals came
from South Korea numbering 85.1 thousand or 65.7 percent of the total visitors from East
Asia.
Influx of foreign tourists in Clark, which comprised 46.7 percent of the total foreign guests,
significantly dropped by 72.1 percent.
Subic was the biggest drawer of guests to the region, accounting for 43.2 percent of the total
arrivals in 2017 wherein domestic tourists comprised 98.0 percent of the total guests
Tourism sites/activities in the city include nature-based, cultural sites, festivals and manmade attractions such
as hotels, resorts and restaurants. The nature-based site is the famous
Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park found in Barangay Tortugas. Part of this barangay has
been declared as a bird sanctuary. The cultural sites include old buildings and historical markers
such as the St. Joseph Cathedral, Surrender Site at the Balanga Elementary School and the Fall of
Bataan Marker and the Plaza Mayor de Balanga, the Water Tank. Festivals are also tourist
attractions. Among them are street dancing, Santacruzan, Mutya ng Lungsod ng Balanga,
Pistang Balangueño, Paskong
Balangueño, Cityhood Anniversary and Bird Festival. The Bird Festival or the Ibong Dayo Festival is one of the
biggest festivals in the City. Six are managed by the government, one is privately owned and one is managed
by the Church. In terms of accessibility, all can be reached all year round through ordinary vehicle. Support
tourism facilities such as hotels and restaurants can be found in the City. Table 17 shows the list of tourism
sites.
 TOURISM ZONE

The tourism zone includes sites for the nature-based activities such as those in the
resorts and the Wetland and Nature Park, Tuyo and the support facilities. Promotion of
historical sites is identified in this zone, including recognition of the United Methodist Church in
Tortugas. Ecotourism area identified in Tuyo shall be devoted for low impact travel or tourist
activities such as hiking, sightseeing, photography, bird watching and educational purposes. The
ecotourism area will be implemented by phase, wherein the upper portion will be developed
first. The remaining areas, where some of the poultry farms are located will be implemented
later. The mining and quarrying site shall be closed upon expiration of the permit/license.

PARTIAL BASIS FOR PROTECTION OF HISTORICAL SITES

Protected Historical sites in BALANGA BATAAN:

 BATAAN WORLD WAR II MUSEUM
 FLAMING SWORD
 ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL
 SURRENDER SITE MARKER
 DIOCESE OF BALANGA
 BALANGA NATURE AND WETLAND PARK
 TORTUGAS BIRD SITE
 BATAAN NATIONAL PARK

TOURISM ZONING – BALANGA BATAAN CLUP ORDINANCE SECTION 13