Strong republic nautical highway seen to boost Guimaras' tourism industry

ILOILO CITY, July 26 (PNA) -– Although President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's strong republic nautical highway (roll-on-roll-off facilities and circumferential road) spanning from Jordan to Sibunag town in the island province of Guimaras still have to be completed this year, yet Gov. Felipe Nava already says that it could surely boost their tourism industry.

Nava said that the island province of Guimaras is endowed with natural beauty with its blue seawaters and white-sand beaches that the local government really has been working hard to promote as a tourist destination.

It is also because of the tourism development thrust of the provincial government of Guimaras that the island province has become a member of the MIGEDC (Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council) that works for the promotion of the area as a tourist destination.

The island province though suffered a major setback from the MT Solar I oil spill on August 12, 2006 which devastated some of its marine resources and contaminated the water.

However, Nava said that they are now starting to recover and that Guimaras could surely attract tourists once the roro facilities and the circumferential road would be finished for tourists from Pulupandan, Negros Occidental can already go to the island province for a brief vacation and then proceed to nearby Iloilo City.

Likewise, those who would like to transport their agricultural products to and from Guimaras can easily do so with the facilities in place.