Pangasinan as a tourism destination
PLUSES AND MINUSES
PANGASINAN is still among the favorite destinations of tourists and excursionists in the region and it can attract more if facilities are improved and expanded.
This was bared by Martin Valera, regional director of the Department of Tourism during the KBP Forum last Thursday.
Valera said that the Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine is still the favorite destination of day-trip tourists and excursionists in Pangasinan but the problem of accommodation for pilgrims and the congested traffic in area remain unaddressed.
The Manaoag Shrine still attracts mostly day-trip tourists because there are still no hotels or lodgings where pilgrims can stay overnight.
The other downside is the heavy traffic caused by visitors’ vehicles and aggravated by the vendors occupying the sidewalks.
“The visitors could not walk on the sidewalks because of the vendors, so they end up walking on the streets adding to the heavy volume of the vehicular traffic,” said Valera.
In contrast, Bolinao and the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) in Alaminos City with enough beach resorts are visited mostly by overnight-staying tourists.
Dagupan City is famous with excursionists or the so-called pass-by travelers for seafood and the famous Bangus Festival, now known to be one of the biggest street parties in the country.
“The city should also begin to focus on promoting its river system since it is now considered as one of the cleanest”, said Valera.
He however pointed to the practice of overcharging by tricycle drivers that leaves a negative impression on the visitors.
“Cleanliness and good services, these should be the focus for tourism in Pangasinan since the province already boasts of beautiful destinations, delicious foods and warm friendly people,” said Valera. (Hilda M. Austria)
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