In a groundbreaking ceremony organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), San Vicente in Palawan is hailed as the first Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) in the Philippines.
Tourism Enterprise Zone is an initiative of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) that aims to seek out promising places and help it develop into a viable tourist destination.
As stated by TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Guiller B. Asido, San Vicente has been chosen because of its untainted natural attractions such as forest and coves, including the 14.7 kilometers shoreline which is considered as the longest in the world.
Plans for San Vicente, conjoined with the availability of the San Vicente airport and other infrastructure, are expected to be completed within 2016. The opening of the San Vicente airport will make Palawan closer to Manila. It is estimated that it will be within the reach by just one-and-a-half hours away from the capital city. Other infrastructure related to the project includes the completion of the Itabiak Road, which will connect the other parts of Palawan to the Long Beach area.
Palawan Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez is positive about the fruitful results of the project. The public official hopes that it will generate a vast number of job opportunities for the people of San Vicente.
