CLARK FREEPORT – At least 100,000 people are expected to troop to the 17th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta here from February 9 to 12, organizers said on Monday.

Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President and CEO Felipe Antonio Remollo said compared to last year’s 84,000 recorded visitors  the four-day balloon fest is expected to attract more visitors since the Freeport plays host to a variety of sporting activities during the weekend.

CDC Tourism Officer Noemi Garcia echoed the statements of Remollo, saying “it looks like we will have 100,000 visitors this year.”

At least 25 hot air balloons, including some special shape balloons, will be featured, a CDC statement said.

“This year’s event would be bigger and better as more American and European balloonists have confirmed attendance,” it added.

Joi Roa, president of the Hot Air Balloon in the Philippines, said that the kiwi-shaped and orange fruit balloon, birthday cake and ‘flying bubbles’ would be among the attractions during the event dubbed as “weekend of everything that flies.”

Roa said propane-powered balloons will come from the United States, Finland, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Amsterdam, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Netherlands, Austria and Philippines.

The retail giant SM will have its own balloon.

Brand new Airbus 320s, gigantic planes such C-17 and CN-235 from the US military force will also be displayed during the four-day fiesta, said Roa.

Other activities lined up for the event  are the special air sporting which includes sky diving-cum-flag-jump (pilot carries with him the Philippine Flag on the way down), ultra light planes, aerobatic precision flying, light airplane rally, helicopter flight demo, hang gliding, remote controlled aeromodellers, as well as kite flying, among others.