Cagayan is in a unique position to tap into China’s huge $3-billion consumer base, Jack Enrile, economic and development consultant to his father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and the province of Cagayan, said Saturday.

“Tourism should stimulate regional economies, and Cagayan should take advantage of its proximity to Asia’s tiger economies,” he said. “We have the best to offer tourists from China.”

“One of these is Cagayan’s best kept secret, the Babuyan Islands.”

In the five major islands of Babuyan, Calayan, Camiguin, Dalupiri, and Fuga, neighborhood cottages may be rented for a nominal fee. White sand dominates Fuga island, reputed to be the most beautiful of them all, while the other islands all have great beaches.

Enrile said the full opening of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) that started last January 1 is expected, among other things, to boost regional tourism.

ASEAN groups are the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
“China and ASEAN will become the world’s largest free trade area,” said Jack Enrile.

“In terms of proximity, Cagayan Valley is the nearest to the huge market of affluent and young Chinese who are looking for new tourist destinations, and we have a lot to offer, in terms of reduced travel time and cost, the eco-tourism we have as well as our excellent resorts and state-of-the-art facilities,” he said.

According to the Department of Tourism, Cagayan Valley is among the country’s major tourist destinations – along with Cebu, Camarines Sur, Baguio City, Boracay, Davao City, Zambales, Puerto Princesa City and Ilocos Norte.

White beaches, underwater sports, rugged cliffs and rock formations await at Palaui Island in the Babuyan Channel. A waterfall is hidden in a forest that is reached by trekking.

“We should take advantage of the CAFTA that is sure to boost regional tourism as well,” said Enrile.

“We are at the forefront of this window of opportunity as we have the geographic edge, being the northernmost point of the country, and thus the nearest to China,” the young Enrile said.

He also pointed out the geographical advantage of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), the country’s fastest-growing industrial, logistics and tourism hub. As a free port, CEZA operates a separate customs territory similar to Hong Kong, Singapore, Labuan in Malaysia and Hamburg in Germany.

It is the only economic zone in the country that has the legal capacity to host and license international Internet gaming companies, Asia’s first and only interactive gaming jurisdiction.