BUSINESSMEN in Tacloban City expressed optimism that the lighting of the San Juanico Bridge will boost the tourism industry in Eastern Visayas five years after Super Typhoon Yolanda leveled most of the region.

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) recently approved the funding of P80 million for the illumination of the San Juanico Bridge.

“Yes, definitely…it would greatly improve the tourism in both Leyte and Samar. As a Rotarian, we always have guests arriving on regular basis, and they would always expect the San Juanico Bridge to be in one of their itineraries,” said John Jefferson Uy, businessman and secretary of Rotary Club of Tacloban.

“That shows that even as it is now, it provides a great curiosity and wonder to not only domestic but also foreign visitors, much more if it was improved. Hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and other local businesses will definitely gain from it,” Uy told Sunstar on Tuesday.

This will boost Eastern Visayas tourism greatly as this will be yet another must-see for tourist, said Aaron Almadro, a car marketing chief in Tacloban.