INVESTMENT SHOWCASE. A showcase of ongoing and future developments to attract investments in Clark, Subic, New Clark City, and TIEZA were presented to the international delegates of the 21st WTTC Global Summit at the new terminal 2 CRK on April 23. Photo by Joann Manabat
CLARK FREEPORT – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) together with Clark Development Corporation hosted an investment tour with the international delegation of travel leaders from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit at the new terminal 2 Clark International Airport (CRK) on Saturday, April 23.
The WTTC Global Summit was held in the country from April 20 to 22 to continuously align efforts to support the travel and tourism sector on its recovery through the Covid-19 pandemic. Now in its 21st year, the annual global summit is dubbed as the most influential travel and tourism event where industry leaders gather with key government representatives.
The investment tour was part of the WTTC Global Summit activity to mark a significant event for the tourism industry through a presentation of investment offerings from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Clark Development Corporation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and New Clark City.
The event was attended by Department of Tourism assistant secretary Verna Buensuceso and Central Luzon regional director Carolina Uy, TIEZA COO Mark Lapid and assistant COO Atty. Karen Sariñas-Baydo, Luzon International Premier Airport Development CEO Bi Yong Chungungco, BCDA senior vice president Engr. Joshua Bincang, CDC president and CEO Ret. PBGen. Manuel Gaerlan and vice president Rynah Ventura, and SBMA chief of staff Atty. John Aquino.
Various investment opportunities, future plans and development at this freeport, the New Clark City, and Subic Bay including TIEZA were discussed and presented to the tourism and hospitality sectors as well as private and foreign investors.
BCDA officer-in-charge president and CEO Atty. Aristotle Batuhan said the WTTC visit came at a perfect time as Clark and New Clark City are playing increasingly critical roles in enabling the local tourism industry and the Philippine economy transition to the new normal.
“The BCDA has always believed that the vision for New Clark City as a smart, resilient, sustainable and inclusive metropolis of the future deserves to be on the world stage. What better way to do this than to let international tourism leaders experience in person the excitement that is building here in New Clark City. We at the BCDA are thrilled to host our WTTC guests and show them how far we’ve come in making this vision a reality,” Batuhan said.
Batuhan added that the opportunities for travel, sports tourism and strategic investing will become even more accessible after New Clark City reopens its doors to the public, and when the new CRK terminal 2 begins its operations in the coming weeks.
Gaerlan, for his part, said, they are looking forward to fostering meaningful partnerships with the members of the WTTC and usher in more business opportunities and possibilities at this freeport.
“We are delighted to welcome the WTTC delegates to the Clark Freeport Zone. Their presence provides us with an excellent opportunity to highlight the exciting tourism developments in Clark. At the same time, we hope that their visit to the Freeport will underscore Clark’s potential as a leading business location, with its stable investment climate and world-class facilities and utilities,” said Gaerlan.
The delegates were also given a tour of sites of interest in Clark, covering hotels, resorts, tourist sites, luxury and recreational facilities, and corporate offices. CDC continues its rise as a prime tourism and commercial hub outside of Metro Manila with over 1,100 business locators in the freeport.
The leaders of the WTTC Global Summit also lauded the Philippines for hosting the event with great optimism as the travel and tourism industry across the globe recovers from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
