Rep. Co eyes turning Bicol into hot air balloon tourist destination

Elizaldy Co —Photo from Office of Elizaldy Co Media Affairs

MANILA, Philippines — Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co has proposed that the Bicol Region be turned into a hot air balloon tourism hub — just like the famed Cappadocia in Turkiye — to generate more income and create more jobs for the region.

Co in an ambush interview said that there is a huge potential for Bicol, particularly Albay where the Mayon Volcano sits, to be considered a spot for hot air balloon watching or riding.

According to the lawmaker, who heads the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations, there is a possibility that Albay can offer a better experience than Cappadocia.

“It only shows [that people are] appreciative, and we can use that to gauge the huge potential of tourism of Albay for the Mayon Volcano with the hot air balloon,” Co said Wednesday when asked about the Bicol Loco festival recently held in Albay.  “We can use that to put our province or our country on the tourism map of the world.”

READ: Bicol Loco festival kicks off with colorful hot air balloons

“Because we saw this in Cappadocia, it was very successful, 150 balloons take flight every day.  So we try to do what Cappadocia has done, with Mayon Volcano being a more scenic view compared to it.  So we’re opening up the hot air balloon tourism [near the] Mayon Volcano,” he added.

Bicol Loco was the first hot-air balloon and music festival in the region, which was said to have attracted around 165,000 attendees to the Old Legazpi Airport for two nights.

Co said this is part of their efforts to showcase the Bicol Region’s attractions and help the local economy.

“We’re committed to showing Bicol’s charm to the world. My vision is to put Bicol on the world tourism map.  The whole world needs to know how beautiful Bicol is, including the Mayon Volcano,” Co said in a statement.

“We want to share Bicol’s natural splendor with the world. I know we can be a premier tourist destination. And this will create jobs, jobs, jobs. Bicol’s landscapes are ‘Instagrammable’, our culture is vibrant, and our hospitality is warm. I want Bicol to emerge as a must-visit locale on the global tourism stage,” he added.

READ: Albay goes full steam ahead with first-ever Bicol Loco Hot Air Balloon Fest

Co said they are looking into hosting the Bicol Loco festival yearly, but part of the vision is to have hot air balloons fly regularly — even daily — just like in Cappadocia.

“Yearly is the hot air balloon festival, but our plan is to have hot air balloons fly every day during the season, there is a season for it.  In Cappadocia, they say it’s from April up to November; for us, I think it’s April to September in Albay,” he noted.

Aside from the hot air balloon, Co’s office said the festival attracted around 80,000 fans at the Old Legazpi Airport on day one, and 85,000 on day two — as a concert was held featuring some of the country’s famous artists.