By Rachel Magday

 

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Governor Atty Jose V. Gambito said the province is poised for a strong tourism push, anchored on the planned reactivation of Bagabag Airport and expanded support for local tour guides.

“We have a bright future in the tourism industry of Nueva Vizcaya. There will be more big opportunities, and tour guiding will no longer be just a part-time job but a full-time profession,” Gambito told participants at the 3rd Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Tour Guides Seminar and Assembly held at Ammungan Hall as part of the province’s Tourism Month celebration.

Gambito said reopening the airport is a priority of his administration, noting that while Nueva Vizcaya has many outstanding destinations, accessibility has been a barrier because of the province’s distance from Metro Manila. He said the airport’s reactivation would significantly improve access and spur growth.

The governor thanked Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton and retired Gen. Thompson Lantion for their support in the Bagabag Airport initiative.

As part of broader support for the sector, Gambito also committed to enroll Nueva Vizcaya tour guides in the Social Security System(SSS) to help secure their retirement benefits.

Department of Tourism Regional Director Troy Alexander G. Miano on the other hand lauded the provincial government for prioritizing tourism projects and thanked the province’s tour guides, whom he described as the reason tourists “go home with a good experience.”

The event was spearheaded by the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office, led by Provincial Tourism Officer Marichelle O. Costales.