Bantayan island tour under new normal ready to rev off

CEBU, Philippines —  It’s now all systems go for the upcoming three-day Bantayan island escapade, a move that is hoped to bring the luster of tourism on the island amid the pandemic.

The tour activity is dubbed as Sta. Fe-Bantayan-Madridejos Escapade/Bantayan Island Airport familiarization tour, which also aiming to promote tourism under the new normal in the island.

The tour will start with the arrival of the first flight carrying guests from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to the newly rehabilitated Bantayan Island Airport on November 27, 2020.

The new airport is situated on a 29-hectare lot owned by the provincial government in Sta. Fe town, Bantayan island.

There will be short program at the airport, after which, guests will depart for Ogtong Cave Resort via Santa Fe Christmas Village, then proceed to Kota Heritage Park and then to the church and museum visit in Bantayan town.

On the second day, guests can choose one from three tour packages like island hopping in Santa Fe, where guests can enjoy the Balidbid Lagoon; Bantayan Island Nature Park where visitors can commune with nature and learn zero-waste management through recycle/reuse of treated wastewater; or the Plant Tour-SM Fishers Corp. where visitors can observe the tour on crab meat extraction, and other seafood processing.

On the third day, there are three activities set for the guests. There will be a mass at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Bantayan town, market visit for “buwad” or dried fish, and visit to Bantayan Craft Souvenir Shop in Santa Fe.

MCIAA General Manager Steve Dicdican, in earlier report, said that putting up an airport in Bantayan provides the easiest way for tourists to reach the island and promote the tourism there.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will also grace the said activities on the island.

Guests attending the three-day escapade will also leave the island via plane from Bantayan Island Airport back to MCIA. — JMD (FREEMAN)