CLARK FREEPORT— The Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) recently conferred the Ecozone Tourism Awards to Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Noel F. Manankil for his efficient management in the promotion of tourism in this Freeport.
RCM, considered as the oldest and most prestigious Rotary Club in the country, recognized Manankil because of the eco-tourism events being held inside the Freeport.
Aside from Manankil, recipients of awards from different categories include Philippine Airline (PAL) President and CEO Jaime Bautista for Hall of Fame award, Manila Hotel Executive Vice President Enrique Yap, Jr. for Heritage Hotel Tourism Category, and Ayala Resorts and Hotel President Miguel Alexis Legaspi for Hotel Development Tourism among others.
In a recent interview, Manankil mentioned that through the existence of the airport along with the on-going developments here, there have been an influx of tourists from across the globe. He also cited that the airport has provided connectivity for both local and international tourists to explore Clark.
Currently, there are 158 international flights and 284 domestic flights per week or a total of 442 flights per week, or an average of 63 per day with an 11 airlines operating the flights at the Clark International Airport (CRK).
It can be recalled that in the previous year, Clark has been also named as the Sport Tourism Destination of the year given by the Philippine Sports Tourism. This Freeport has been a preferred location for sports-related activities due to its feasible and suitable environment for athletes’ trainings and other activities.
Accordingly, various initiatives and activities that centers in culture and arts were conducted and supported by the state-owned firm in promoting the tourism industry here. CDC has been focusing in generating tourism events that will complement the development inside this Freeport, to make it more holistic in offering inclusive developments to its neighboring communities while incorporating culture, arts and tradition.