SBMA exec: Cruise ship program benefits entire Central Luzon

SUBIC Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chair and administrator Wilma "Amy" Eisma said the arrival of tourists on board cruise ships at Subic is benefiting the entire Central Luzon region.

Eisma disclosed this during the News at Hues media forum at Park Inn By Radisson Clark on Tuesday, October 16.

The SBMA has prepared a list of tourist destinations in Pampanga and Clark, Zambales and Bataan for the tourists.

"We are promoting Subic as cruise ship destination but it’s not only for Subic. We are also promoting other places in Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga and Clark," Eisma said.

Last February 7, 2018, Italian-flagged Costa Atlantica cruise liners carrying more than 2,000 passengers docked at Subic for the first time, according to her.

"We haven’t stopped ever since. We continue to get more, in fact at the end of the year we expect 20 more calls more various cruise liners," Eisma said.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line carrying 8,000 passengers and 2,000 crew were at the port this year, she added.

Subic is positioning to be Asia's next cruise ship destination, the SBMA top official said.

"This dream is the result of hard work of the SBMA team, the key here is the cooperation," she added.