Bicol harnesses tourism potentials

MANILA, Philippines - Visitors to Bicol can soon discover more of the region’s hidden tourism wonders with the recent launch of the Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon (Almasor) Tourism Alliance which covers the southern half of Bicolandia.

The Almasor subregion is a tourism development area (TDA) created to maximize its tourism potentials by identifying emerging attractions and formulating new tour packages.

According to Albay governor and Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC) chair Joey Salceda, the Almasor aims to spread the economic benefits of tourism to the region fs lesser known areas.

Among the identified attractions are Matnog’s Subic Beach and the Bulusan Volcano National Park in Sorsogon; Kitwinan Falls and Japanese Tunnel in Camalig, Albay; and the Manta Bowl in Ticao Island, Masbate.

Bicol is one of the country’s leading destinations anchored on Albay’s Mayon Volcano and the butanding (whale shark) interaction in Donsol, Sorsogon. In addition, Masbate is an untapped hideaway for its diverse marine life.

Salceda said that along with tour- ism development is the upgrading of key road networks, construction of new roads and seaport facilities, and other vital infrastructure to improve access to the tourist sites. Northern Bicol has two TDAs – the Camarines Circuit which is comprised of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, and the Caramoan Catanduanes Tour- ism Link covering eastern Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.