CLARK FREEPORT -- In an effort to establish Pampanga as a “must-see” destination, a national organization of travel agents recently launched tour packages to promote tourists spots in the province.
Dubbed as “Leguan Ning Pampanga” (Beauty of Pampanga), the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies - Philippines, Inc. (NAITAS) Pampanga Chapter hosted some 100 tourism stakeholders nationwide to a familiarization tour in the province.
NAITAS has 14 chapters nationwide and is composed of 1,000 members.
Citing Clark airport’s expansion, Nancy Dominguez, president of NAITAS Pampanga chapter expressed optimism in promoting the province as a "promising" tourist destination.
“As proud Kapampangans, we aim to establish Pampanga as a ‘must-see’ destination among local and foreign tourists. With the emerging growth and renovation of Clark International Airport, the momentum is in our favor,” said Dominguez.
From March 16 to 17, NAITAS' members from all over the country were able to experience culture and heritage tours in Clark and some and parts of Pampanga, adventure tours in SandBox at Alviera, Puning Hot Springs and Sand Spa in Sapang Bato, Angeles City, among others. Old churches in the province were also visited as part of the pilgrimage tour.
Likewise, a series of familiarization tours had been carried out by the Department of Tourism Regional Office III (DOT-3) according to Caroline De Guzman Uy, officer in charge regional director of DOT-3.
“For quite some time, we’ve been craving for more flights, especially here at Clark International Airport, so now that the flights are here and they keep on coming airline companies continue to mount, for the past months we’ve been having domestic and international routes,” said Uy.
“A lot of exciting things are going on here in Clark. It is our responsibility to support these airline companies and by conducting familiarization exchanges between Central Luzon and other regions and the conduct of business to business meetings, our stakeholders are able to sell their destinations,” she said.
“I must truly say that familiarization exchanges like this, programs like these are really successful and effective,” she added.
For her part, Pinky Hautea, president, NAITAS Bacolod-Negros Occidental chapter vowed to return and bring guests to Pampanga.
“We enjoyed the Clark Museum, 4D Theater and Puning’s Hot Springs is nice. Also the Aqua Planet, it’s another attraction that we can promote,” said Hautea who is also the chief executive officer of Travel Experts Center.
NAITAS is composed of the following officers namely Nancy Dominguez, president from White Dove Travel and Tours Consultancy, Jowie Brent Garcia, vice-president from Majemah Travel and Tours Corporation, Sheryl Pare, secretary, from Travel Escape Travel and Tours, Perlita Fria, treasurer, from Shekinah Travel and Tours Malou Bautista, auditor, from Dzone Travel Line Inc., and Beniza Tulabot, public relations officer from Your Amazing Memories Travel and Tours.