New Clark City eyed to boost PHL’s sports tourism

THE BASES Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DoT), said it aims to highlight the “world-class facilities” in New Clark City (NCC) to boost the country’s sports tourism and economic growth.

“We are aligning infrastructure with destination marketing, we are aligning event hosting with visitor experience,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said in his speech on Monday.

“And we are aligning sports development with economic opportunity,” he added.

The NCC houses the only 20,000-seater athletics stadium in the Philippines certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), a 2,000-seater aquatics center, and the Athletes’ Village.

It also became the central hub for the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.

“We are having this partnership to further develop these facilities as engines,” Mr. Bingcang said. “Engines for sports excellence, engines for local enterprise, and engines for regional growth.”

Under the partnership, the Tourism department will assist in marketing and promotion of the NCC’s sports facilities to attract local and international sports events and activities.

Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said hosting more athletic events in the NCC will drive more economic opportunities for local businesses.

“Partnerships such as this reflect a principle that has guided our work in tourism, that growth must translate into real opportunity for our people,” she said in a speech.

“We aim to maximize the potential of destinations such as New Clark City and other BCDA-managed properties as venues for international events and as drivers of tourism activity, investments, and jobs,” she added.

To complement the agency’s sports tourism initiatives, strategic programs and tour packages will also be promoted.

“We will work with local governments and tourism stakeholders to develop experiences around these sporting events,” Ms. Frasco said.

In line with its target to become a sports tourism hub, the BCDA has partnered with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to develop an additional 10-hectare indoor gym facility in NCC for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.

A separate 10-hectare tennis center development, in collaboration with the Philippine Tennis Association (PhilTA), is also scheduled for completion in 2027.

The budget for both of the facilities is P2.5 billion.

“We’re merging those two properties, 20 hectares, to develop these facilities… We’re going to finalize the concept plan with the Philippine Sports Commission,” Mr. Bingcang told ����ý in an interview.

“This will translate to a PPP arrangement with the private sector to build,” he added.

Last week, the BCDA broke ground for the John Hay Sports Center in Baguio City – a regional training center positioned as another sports tourism destination. — Reuters