Zambales gears up for tourism

The province of Zambales is set to advance its role in Philippine tourism with the efforts of the Zambales Tourism Council (ZTC), which consists of the stakeholders in the local tourism industry. According to newly elected ZTC chairman and former vice-mayor of Iba town, Benjamin Farin Jr., tourism is among the flagship projects of the new provincial administration under Governor Amor Deloso to harness the natural beauty of the province.

As an initial undertaking, ZTC has published the EZ Map Zambales tourist guide in cooperation with the United Tourist Promotion. They will also mount the annual Zambales Mango Festival in April and is formulating a tour package of the tourist sites of the province.

Composed of 13 towns, which are mostly along the sea, Zambales boasts of kilometers of crystal clear waters and fine sand beaches with a good portion of it in Iba. Other attractions include wildlife parks, The Ina Poon Bato Shrine and Mount Pinatubo in Botolan, century – old churches in Sta. Cruz, surfing circuits in San Narciso, sprawling mango orchardsd, mountain camps in palauig, enchanting islands in Candelaria and Santa Cruz, the President ramon Magsaysay Ancestral House in Castillejos, the Olongapo City Museum of Iba, and marine protected areas in Masinloc among others.

In town of San Antonio, they recently organized a municipal tourism council to harness its potential. The town’s tourist spots include a Spanishera lighthouse in Capones Island, the Casa San Miguel arts Center, and the Puta De Uian where the popular teleserye “Marimar” is being shot.