100 Islands only had 219 visitors
IMPACT OF COVID-19
IF there is one popular tourist destination in Pangasinan that can indicate how bad the tourism sector fared amid the COVID-19 pandemic, that would be the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) in Alaminos City.
The HINP finally opened its doors to visitors last month and it recorded only 219 guests compared to 23,000 visitors in July last year!
Rosalie Arguello, assistant tourism officer, said, “It’s really sad not only to the local government unit but also to those whose livelihood depends on the HINP… selling food and souvenir items, boatmen, etc.
She said HINP was open to Alaminians and residents of the First District of Pangasinan initially because strict quarantine protocols have started to ease up.
It was finally opened to all Pangasinenses starting Aug. 8 because many have indicated they want to visit the HINP and to start efforts at economic recovery.
She said they also considered opening to more visitors on seeing how the provincial government is managing the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 “and we believe it is already well-controlled in all towns and cities so we thought it safe to open the HINP to the rest of the residents of the province.”
Visitors will be required to present identification cards and health certificates before they can board the boats. (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)
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