SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Tourist arrivals in this free port had dropped six percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2013, records from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) showed.
The SBMA’s midyear report said a total of 613,758 tourists arrived here from January to June, lower than last year’s record of 651,677 for the same period.
Tourists are classified as those who stayed at least a night in the free port, said lawyer Ruel John Kabigting, SBMA deputy administrator for business.
This free port, a former United States naval base, is considered as a major industrial hub and a tourism destination in Central Luzon.
Kabigting said the decrease in tourist arrivals could be attributed to the efficient road system in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
“That is why instead of staying inside the free port, people go home,” he said.
He said another possible reason for the declining number of tourists was the lack of new attractions.
“Our attractions are basically the same. We have the Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari but having more attractions like these will make people want to come here,” Kabigting said.
He said new theme parks are expected to open this year to attract more tourists.
SBMA records also showed that revenues generated from tourism also dropped from January to June this year, with only P8 million generated compared to almost P12 million for the same period in 2013.
SBMA has seen a decline in the number of hotel guests and hotel occupancy rate from January to June this year.
Hotels here had recorded only 591,992 guests in the first half of 2014 compared to last year’s 623,648 guests for the same period.
Kabigting, however, said the number of visitor arrivals, which refers to those who stayed inside the free port for only a day, increased by 12 percent.
A total of 3,381,854 visitors arrived here for the first half of the year compared to 3,011,582 visitors last year.
For three consecutive years since 2011, tourist arrivals here have grown steadily, records showed.