Manila, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday said more foreign and local travelers are expected to visit the Quirino Grandstand nearly a year after a bloody hostage-taking incident occurred at the historic and popular destination that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.
Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said they expect a surge in the number of visitors at the Quirino Grandstand with the launching of the heritage promotional campaign focusing on national hero Jose Rizal.
In line with the campaign, the DOT yesterday unveiled the “Rizal Relief Map One-Stop Heritage Trail” at the Quirino Grandstand.
Lim said the campaign was meant not only to lure more tourists to visit Manila, particularly Quirino Grandstand, but also to make more people aware about Rizal.
“Every Filipino should avail of this chance to get to know our national hero better, to learn from his experiences, and to appreciate the many significant places in his life,” Lim said.
The tourism chief said that even foreign visitors are welcome to participate and share the Filipino’s pride.
“With increased tourist traffic to these areas, the project helps spread the economic benefits to the host communities,” Lim added.
The DOT said the Rizal trail campaign would allow tourists to visit Rizal’s Monument, the Rizal Light and Sound Park, and have their Rizal passports stamped, to signify that they have already visited those sites.
During yesterday’s launching, the guests also had the chance to get a taste of Rizal’s favorite meals that include sardenas secas tuyo, pancit miki, tinola, paksiw na ayungin, and tsokolate.
The launch also included visits to the old Ateneo de Manila University, where Rizal studied for a greater part of his youth, the prison where he was detained in Fort Santiago, the present Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, where he was tried, and Paco Park, where his remains were buried.
The DOT said the first 100 tourists to visit all the Rizal sites mentioned in the Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 travel brochure, complete with the stamps as proof, can present their passports to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to win exciting tokens and an official “Kalakbay ni Gat Jose Rizal” certificate.