Puerto Princesa mayor Lucilo Bayron has announced a P16-million plan to renovate the park in front of the City Coliseum, including the dancing fountain.
Bayron said on Wednesday during the opening of the Tourism Month that the renovation will start during the first quarter of 2020 if not end of this year as part of the city government’s improvement and beautification program of all tourist destinations in the urban area.
“We will have a renovation of this park (Coliseum). Papalitan natin ang mga ilaw dito. Lalagyan natin ng mga bulaklak para maging mas maganda at puwede tayo makapagpa-picture. Ipapaayos natin itong ating fountain — hindi ko pa alam kung magkano ang aabutin, but we have P16 million na puwedeng i-allocate dito,” he said.
He said the improvement of the City Coliseum park is part of their plan to encourage tourists to also visit destinations within downtown Puerto Princesa.
Bayron said that currently, the only sites that tourists often visit are the underground river at Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, and Honda Bay Islands in Brgy. Sta. Lourdes.
“Kung isa kang turista, ang unang makaka-attract sa ‘yo ay ang mga destinations sa isang lugar. Siguro narinig na ninyo ang analogy ko na if you’re operating a city and you would like to push tourism ay pareho ‘yan sa pag-ooperate ng isang restaurant at ang laman ng menu mo dalawa lang — underground river at Honda Bay. Kaya hirap tayo makaimbita ng mga turista na bumalik. We need to work hard to develop more destinations, hindi lang natural kundi pati man-made and other events to attract more people to come,” Bayron said.
Bayron also said that the city’s nightlife will also be improved by creating activities that would entice tourists.
He did not say what the city government’s future plans on this are, but he said these will ensure that tourists will have more to do in Puerto Princesa.
“Gagawa tayo ng destination at night para sa mga turista para puno ang kanilang araw at gabi habang nandito sila sa siyudad. Plano natin ‘yan,” he said.
On Wednesday, a month-long tourism month celebration in Puerto Princesa was opened by the city government.
The celebration will be until September 30, and will showcase various activities, including a night and food market in front of the City Coliseum.
Previously, City Tourism Office (CTO) senior operations officer and promotions marketing chief Michie Meneses said Puerto Princesa will celebrate this year’s tourism month with the theme “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future to All.”
“Itong tourism month is in line sa World Tourism Organization. Idini-declare talaga ang September as World Tourism Month, pero actually World Tourism Day is on September 28. Dito nag-extend tayo na ang buong September ay gawin nating tourism month celebration,” said Meneses.
She said the grand coronation for “Mr. Tsuperman”, a male pageant for the tourism drivers of boats, vans, and buses, will be on September 24. An outstanding tourism players will also be awarded on September 30.
