Baler, Aurora?A world-class hotel that offers as backdrop a fascinating view of the Pacific Ocean has started operations on a three-hectare site at Barangay Subang in this town, a premier surfing destination in Southern Luzon.
Annabella Wisniewski, President of Raintree Company, owner of Costa Pacifica Raintree, said the 76-room hotel offers world-class facilities to weekend surfers, special interest groups, local and foreign tourists.
?This type of hotel is appropriate because Filipinos are known for its hospitality. It?s a terrific industry because Filipinos are naturally hospitable,? she said.
Raintree has been building high-end hotels, restaurants, food courts and food parks in the different parts of the country. The Costa Pacifica was designed by prominent architect Ed Calma.
The resort hotel has well-appointed suites, and its facilities include the Beach House, the Cafe Rosa, the Dill Square herb garden, an outdoor pool and children?s activity room. It has 200-capacity Pavilion, which serves as venue for meetings, conferences, parties and weddings.
Wisneiewski said her company decided to build a world-class hotel in Baler to cas in on the booming tourism industry in Aurora, which is a few hours drive from Manila and the only beach area surrounded by land-locked provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya.
?Besides, we want to showcase the beauty of Baler as a premier tourist destination and tourism can generate a lot of revenues,? she said.
Michael Palispis, provincial tourism officer, said more than 200,000 tourists visited the province last year, a big jump form the 8,744 tourist arrivals recorded in 2005.
Rep. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, a former governor of Aurora, said the province offers tourists pristine, white-sand beaches, waterfalls, virgin forests and various historical and cultural sites.
It is also considered a haven for eco-tourism adventures because of the different rock formations, hiking trails, and secluded coves, Angara-Castillo said.