Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Clark to host 12th hot air balloon fiesta By Reynaldo G. Navales
CLARK Freeport -- Prepare for a weekend of everything that flies as this freeport would be hosting the 12th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta from February 7 to 10, 2008.
The 12th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is expected to outdo this year's event, held at the Philippine Air Force (PAF) from February 7 to 10, 2007. The event hoarded 100,000 spectators.
Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Liberato P. Laus said reports reaching his office revealed that this year's balloon fiesta has doubled by 100 percent based on 100,000 gate receipts collected by event organizers.
Business was also brisk during the 11th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta as concessionaires reported increased earnings due to the crowd that attended the aero sports event.
Laus said Clark's tourism-related industries are also expected to benefit from the annual event as hotels and villas inside the freeport and nearby Angeles City are usually fully-booked.
Aside from spectators, the 11th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta attracted 22 balloon pilots from 15 countries. Event organizers are also expecting the same number of participants for the February 2008 aero sports event.
Also expected to highlight the 12th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta are the following aero sports activities: sky diving, ultra-light fly-in, airplane rally and balloon bursting competitions, aerobatic stunts, aero-modelers flight exhibition from the Aero-modelers Association, helicopter fly-by and choreographed kite flying demonstrations by the Kite Association of the Philippines.
Other expected highlights of the event are mini-trade fairs, food plazas, automobile and airplane shows and exhibits, game booths, and live concerts, which were all mounted by the CDC's Marketing Department and the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office. For inquiries log-on to www.philballoonfest.net.
