Subic Freeport ready for sports tourism

The Subic Freeport is fast becoming a favorite venue for international and local sports competitions.

This was announced by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand C. Arreza during the one-day forum recently held by the Department of Tourism (DoT).

The forum was aimed at promoting sports tourism in the Subic Bay Freeport as it gears up to further enhance the new trend in the tourism industry.

"SBMA is now in its thrust to create more employment for the residents of surrounding communities, and sports tourism will be among the job-generating activities that the Subic Freeport will engage in," Arreza told the forum.

He said that SBMA is preparing the Subic Freeport to become a world-class sports tourism facility, investing in its geographically strategic location with its surrounding water forms, nature terrain and airspace for sports of all kinds.

"Subic Bay Freeport is very accessible by land, water or air with its seaport, airport and by land with the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway which is expected to be completed on January," Arreza said.

These are attributed to the continuous improvement of not just sports tourism, but tourism, in general. The increase in number of local and international sports competitions held in Subic Bay annually showed that it is already in the business.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Cynthia Carrion (Sports and Wellness) led the team of experts who discussed pertinent issues on sports tourism, including Phil. Sports Commission Chairman William Butch Ramirez (Government Role in Supporting Sports Program), Selracho President and Sports Tourism Forum Dir. Charles Lim (Marketing a Sports Destination), Adidas (Phils.) Managing Director Joey Singian (Finding Tournament Sponsors: What Do They Look For), Philsoc Dep. Chairman Jose Capistrano (Sports Event Management), and IMG (Phils.) Managing Dir. Princess Galura (Sports Events Marketing).

"Compared to other countries in the region, the Subic Bay Freeport is more competitive in such sector such as vacation spots, golfing, scuba diving, adventure race, because we have the sea, the mountains and the good climate, plus the facilities that are all in one area and close to each other," said Lim.

The forum, organized by the Selrahco Management Services in cooperation with the DoT, the Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB) and the SBMA, was attended by sports organizers, event organizers, tourism councils, school representatives, sponsors, sports association, media organizations and other line agencies. (PNA)