IBA, Zambales — Capitalizing on its natural attractions, ample tourism facilities, and accessible location, the province of Zambales has set its sights on becoming one of the country’s most popular eco-tourism destinations in the next few years.

Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the provincial government, ably supported by local tourism stakeholders and entrepreneurs, will be mounting a campaign to fully develop the potentials of natural attractions like beaches, rivers, lakes, caves and forests in the 13 towns of Zambales.

“We will start with our shoreline, as this is already popular for weekend vacations and water sports. Then from there, we can move inland to rivers, lakes and mountains,” Ebdane said.

He said the jagged coastline of Zambales extends about 170 kilometers long and contains sandy beaches ideal for swimming and water sports, as well as secluded coves that are perfect for camping.

“Then we have coral reefs for recreational diving,” the governor added.

Just last week, Ebdane went diving off the Hermana Menor Island in Sta. Cruz town to check out its potential as a tourist destination. The reefs around the island have been seeded with giant clams and now contain some of the biggest and most colorful corals in the province, said Sta. Cruz mayor Luisito Marty.

In his frequent community visits, Ebdane has also been checking out other possible tourism draws in the province, like caves in Candelaria and Sta. Cruz towns, and a “white water” rafting destination in the upland community of Coto in Masinloc town.

Ebdane added that the Zambales provincial tourism program will be boosted by the construction of two major roads that would allow fast and easy access to Zambales: the Botolan–Capas Road, which would connect central Zambales to Tarlac province, and the Sta.Cruz–Mangatarem Road, which would link the northernmost town in the province to eastern Pangasinan.

The southern towns of Zambales, meanwhile, are easily accessible from Manila through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

“With easy access to Zambales, we hope to bring in more visitors who will stay for a longer period – the bakasyonistas – who will also buy from our markets, hire our workers, and rent our facilities,” Ebdane said.

The governor added that his administration is also inviting investors to put up more tourism facilities that will attract the kind of tourists who stay for long durations, and who bring in more income to the local economy.

In 2009, Zambales was identified by the Department of Tourism (DoT) as one of the top 10 most frequently visited spots in the country, along with Cebu, Boracay, Bohol and Camarines Sur.

However, Ebdane said that while Zambales received top ranking, it got a measly eight percent of the total tourist arrivals in the country. In comparison, Cebu got 32 percent, and Boracay 12 percent.

“We have to get better numbers, so we have to be more aggressive in our tourism campaign,” Ebdane said, explaining the new direction in the province’s tourism program.

To help realize Ebdane’s tourism program, the Zambales Provincial Tourism Office is now seeking a hefty increase in its annual budget for 2011 — from the P1 million approved in previous years to P5 million next year, said tourism officer Tel Mora.

Ebdane, who considers it his “priority job” to look for additional revenue for the province, fully supports the tourism initiative.

“If this is what we need to boost the tourism industry in the province, then we will approve it,” the governor said of the budget proposal.