Experience

Ilocos Norte's Greatness

Ilocos Norte, Philippines Tourism Development Plan

UBSIHTM CHAMPIONS DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING CONSULTANT, INC.

Tayo, Claire Ann D.

Palabay, Sophia Alethea L.
Rombaoa, Jessa Aubrey Camille

TPC107 MWF 11:00AM-12:00PM

Introduction

UBSIHTM CHAMPIONS DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING CONSULTANT, INC.,

the proponent of the Tourism Development Plan for Ilocos Norte,
seeks to capitalize on the geographic riches of the municipality
and its culture and nature that offers the greatest tourists
attractions and experiences. The demographic profile and history
will also be used to enforce a strong sense of culture and
heritage in company with the projected developments of Ilocos
Norte as a tourist destination.

Political bodies, laws, orders, and programs that may aid in

the development of tourism in the area will be considered
foremost. The specific explanation of the plan will be discussed
in the succeeding parts.

As a directive to the tourism development planning, UBSIHTM

CHAMPIONS DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING CONSULTANT, INC. has come up
with a Vision, Mision, and Objectives.

Vision
UBSIHTM CHAMPIONS DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING CONSULTANT, INC.,
envision the province of Ilocos Norte to be a top bucket list
tourist attraction in the Philippines with sustainable tourism.

Mission
To aggressively respond to the needs of eco-cultural and
heritage sites tourism development by promoting it to local and
foreign tourists as a top destination in the Philippines and
taking into consideration the social needs of Ilocos Norte.

Objectives
UBSIHTM CHAMPIONS DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING CONSULTANT, INC.,
seeks to develop the province of Ilocos Norte as a top tourist
destination in the philippines through:

1. Enforcement of policies regarding the conservation and

preservation of our natural and cultural resources.
2. Developing competitive eco-cultural and natural tourism
 products to meet the demand and satisfaction of our
local and international tourists and visitors.
3. Make Ilocos Norte as a well-known destination to its
target market
4. Installation of communication facilities and;
5. Improvement and establish new hotels and homestays.

To serve as a guide during the whole tourism development planning

process, the proponents have adapted certain approaches in line
with the Vision, Mission and Objectives. These are the following:

1. Sustainable Tourism Approach - The conception of sustainable

tourism refers to the wider conception of sustainable
development, which stresses the need of rational management
of natural environment resources. An approach that upholds
the respect of local culture, protection of nature, and
advocacy of social responsibility and fair commerce.
Ecotourism Approach, Environmental Approach, and Community-
based Tourism Approach are being considered and included.
2. Participatory / Stakeholder Approach - A key step in the
success of the stakeholder/participatory approach is the
identification of different stakeholder groups which in this
planning process puts Ilocos Norte residents as the center
and being the most relevant stakeholders. Social Approach
and Pro-Poor Approach are being considered and included.
3. Demand-Led Approach - the phrase “Know your customers and
satisfy them” suggests to identify what tourist market
segments want, and to match these wants with the available
tourist attractions in the Ilocos Norte. Satisfactory leads
to repeat visits or positive word of mouth which will
generate even bigger numbers of arrivals. Boosterist
Approach and Product-Led Development Approach are being
considered and included.

Adapted Tourism Policies

Alongside the platforms and Approaches that underline the
planning process, the following laws shall also be considered as
the proponent develops Ilocos Norte as a top bucket list tourist
destination in the Philippines. The role of these laws in the
planning process shall be discussed in detail in the following
chapters.
 ● Republic Act of 9593: Tourism Act Law of 2009
● Republic Act 7586: National Integrated Protected Areas
System Act of 1992
● Presidential Decree 1511: Philippine Environmental Policy
● Presidential Decree 1586: Establishing an Environmental
Impact Statement System, including other environmental
management related measures and for other purposes
● Republic Act 9729: Climate Change Act of 2009
● Republic Act 9710: The Magna Carta of Women
● Republic Act 7277: Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
● Republic Act 8371: The Indigenous People’s Rights Act of
1997

History and Background of the Destination

Brief Profile

Ilocos Norte is
noted for being the
birthplace of former
President Ferdinand E.
Marcos, who led an
authoritarian rule over
the country during the
latter half of his
incumbency. The
Figure 1.0 Ilocos Norte top view of Marcos Marcoses enjoy a
Stadium and Paoay Lake modicum of popularity
in the province. Ilocos
Norte is also known as
a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort
Ilocandia, an upper class hotel and beach resort famous among
expatriates, and Pagudpud.

Capital: Laoag City

Land Area: 3,504.3 km²

Population: 593,081 (2015)

Cities: Batac City, Laoag City

 Municipalities: 21

Barangays: 557

Languages: Ilocano, Tagalog, English

Location

Ilocos Norte is a province

of the Philippines located in
the Ilocos Region in Luzon.
Its capital is Laoag City and
is located at the northwest
corner of Luzon Island,
bordering Cagayan and Apayao
to the east, and Abra and
Ilocos Sur to the south.
Ilocos Norte faces the South
China Sea to the west and the
Luzon Strait to the north.

People and Culture

In the 330-page The

Ilocos Heritage (the 27th
book written by Visitacion de
la Torre), the Ilocano legacy
and the life of the Ilocano –
are described as - "the
FIGURE 1.1 ILOCOS NORTE CENSUS
browbeaten, industrious,
cheerful, simple soul who has
shown a remarkable strain of bravery and a bit of wanderlust."
The Ilocano history reveals his struggles and victories – in
battles for colonial independence from Spain and America, to
Philippine leadership. The new Ilocano searched for greener
pastures towards new lands local and foreign - Palawan, Mindanao,
Hawaii, the United States and Greece. The Ilocano material
culture and spirituality can be seen in the past - images of
Spanish santo (saints), antique but intricate wooden furniture
and quality local fiber. The native Ilocano is a weaver, wood
carver and pottery expert. The Ilocano cuisine – ranges from the
exotic "abu-os" (ant eggs) to vegetable broth "dinengdeng," and
"pinakbet" the sticky "tinubong" to the "poqui-poqui" (eggplant
salad). Ilocandia is filled with colonial churches, the legacy of
Spanish Catholicism.

Religion

Although the majority of the People in the Philippines are

adherents to the Roman Catholic but its not the majority religion
in the province. The Aglipayan Church, founded by Batac native
Gregorio Aglipay has a strong following in the province.

Ilocos Norte is home to several famous Roman Catholic churches:

Paoay Church (St. Augustine Church) - named a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1993.
St. William's Cathedral in Laoag - famous for its Sinking Bell
Tower
St. Monica Parish Church in Sarrat - documented to be the biggest
church in the Ilocos Region.
Bacarra Church - destroyed during an intensity VII (on the Rossi-
Forel scale) earthquake on August 17, 1983, reconstructed and re-
inaugurated in 1984.
Ilocos Norte is the home of the Aglipay Shrine (Aglipayan Church)
where the church's first supreme leader was buried.

Economy

The province specializes in the following products and

industries:
Agriculture - rice, corn, garlic, legumes, root crops, tobacco,
and other fruits and vegetables
Fishery - tilapia and assorted fishes
Livestock - swine and cattle
Cottage industries - loom weaving, furniture, ceramics, iron
works
Manufacturing and food processing - salt, empanada, bagoong,
patis, basi (native Ilocano wine), vinegar, longganisa,
chicharon, bagnet, chichacorn (cornick), jewelry, garments,
cereal processing, packaging, mechanized processing equipment
Wind Power Ilocos Norte's position on the northwest corner of
Luzon makes it ideal for wind power generation. There is
currently a 25 Megawatt wind farm in Ilocos Norte, and several
more wind energy projects are being planned. Tourism & Pottery

Tourism

The province offers a

number of popular destinations
for tourists, locals and
foreigners alike. Because of
its proximity to the South
China Sea, tourist arrivals
peak during the summer
seasons, the beach resorts
topping the most visited list.

● Fort Ilocandia Beach

Resort and Hotel - The
sandy beach spans 2
kilometers. It also
offers the only 5-star
hotel in northern
Philippines sprawling
over 77 hectares of land.
It is located in Laoag
City and is a 10-minutes
FIGURE 1.2 ILOCOS NORTE, AIRSCAPE
drive from the Laoag
TRAVEL GUIDE International Airport.
● Laoag Sinking Bell Tower -
Over the years the 45m
high bell tower has shelved a few meters downward. This is
evident by the tower's entrance that at present day a man of
ordinary height must bend over to get inside.
● Bangui Wind Farm
● Saud Beach Resort
● Sta. Monica Church Complex
● Paoay Church - This baroque architecture church is inscribed
in UNESCO's World Heritage List.
● Juan Luna Museum
● Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
● Marcos Museum
 ● Gov. Roque Ablan Sr. Shrine
● Paoay lake

Product Development (Prerequisites)

Based on prerequisites to tourism product development as a

set by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ,
Ilocos Norte must meet the five criteria before it can proceed to
develop its tourism products. This is to ensure that all planning
garner returns and no money, time or effort is wasted.

1. Accessibility - at present, there is an ample transport

infrastructure in Ilocos Norte. Vans, Buses, Tricycle,
Airport (Laoag International Airport) and you can bring your
own or private car. But there’s transportation protocols
that both drivers and passengers must comply with the “no
face shield, no mask, no ride” policy, this includes public
transportation. It is for safety measures to contain and
lessen the spread of COVID19.
2. Resources/Existing Products - Ilocos Norte is rich in
natural and cultural products. Agriculture; rice, corn,
garlic, legumes, root crops, tobacco, and other fruits and
vegetables. Cottage industries; loom weaving, furniture,
ceramics, iron works. Manufacturing and food processing;
salt, empanada, bagoong, patis, basi (native Ilocano wine),
vinegar, longganisa, chicharon, bagnet, chichacorn
(cornick), jewelry, garments, cereal processing, packaging,
mechanized processing equipment. Wind Power, Pottery and
many more.
3. Demand - because the country is suffering from Covid19 the
demand in the tourism industry became low. Thursday, October
15, 2020 the Ilocos Norte is opening again to tourists but
only to tourists in Luzon. It is the first province in
Region I, alongside Baguio City, to welcome tourists as part
of intra-regional collaborative efforts to mitigate the
impact of COVID in Northern Luzon tourism. But before you
can enter the province you need to follow the Executive
Order guidelines for safety.
4. Policy and Government - National and regional-scale policies
are set in place that enable and advocate for tourism in
 Ilocos Norte. The request for a tourism development plan for
Ilocos Norte came from the authorities. There’s also a
protocol that needs to be followed by residents and local
travelers during this pandemic, so Ilocos Norte is safe to
surmise that there is an stability, openness and to some
extent readiness for tourism development in the province.
5. Tourism in relation to the destination's overall economy -
the local government of Ilocos Norte seeks to capitalized on
the tourism potential of their locality because they
believed that the tourism industry play a crucial role for
the economy of the province, it help the resident to gain
profit by offering their products and tourist destination.
The overall tourism economy of the province is being
monitored by the government or the Department of Tourism.
6. Acceptability of stakeholders - this aspect is considered by
the proponent as being the first base state. Since the
request for development of tourism in the province was
forwarded and being permitted by the government of Ilocos
Norte.
7. Adhere to nationally accepted standards - Ilocos Norte
tourism destination and establishment already acquire the
national accreditation standards that they will be able to
keep the quality that is being provided.

Product Offerings

The proponents have considered some of the most ambitious

and most readily achievable tourism products that can be
incorporated in Ilocos Norte.

Where possible, the planners seek to enlist the help of the

government bodies such as the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),
Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and other agencies like
Department of Tourism (DOT) for accreditation needs. It will
benefit Ilocos Norte to improve and to serve products and
services the quality that the tourists deserve. It can serve as
the method to bring several programs and enhance the livelihood
of the residents.
Some Food Products Offerings of Ilocos Norte:

Bagnet

The Ilocano Bagnet is also

known as chicharon baboy or deep-
fried pork meat. It is pork belly
deep-fried in its own fat. Once
fried, it is air dried up to drain
the fat. The process is repeated
over and over until the pork
reaches its maximum crispiness.

Okoy
It is a crispy shrimp
fritters cooked in their shell
in a glutinous rice batter and
shaped into a round form.
These fritters are garnished
with fresh shallots and a mix
of garlic and chili peppers.

Dudol

It is a traditional dessert in
 Ilocos. It is made of rice flour,
coconut milk, sugarcane juice and
anise. The secret to making a good
dudol is to patiently and
continuously stir the ingredients
under the slow fire.
Dinengdeng
It is Filipino vegetable dish
that originated from the Ilocos
Region in the Philippines. It is
composed of different vegetables
that are usually grown in one’s
backyard.

A. Food Product Development

1. Localize. Go Native
and Celebrate Local
Product through
incorporating local
cuisines, local
delicacies and local
ingredients the
province probably
makes a trademark that
tourists will visit
again. Instead of
using overseas or
outside food and
ingredients, every
restaurant or food
organization must

FIGURE 1.3 ILOCOS NORTE MARKET AND

FOOD PRODUCTS

patronize the local food that they have, promote it as “must

try” when visiting the province. Some of the example food
products that Ilocos Norte is proud of is the “Empanada”, It
has different combinations like papaya, monggo, egg,
longganisa and even hotdog that tourists find themselves
visiting again because of this food.
2. Create products from events, focus on different
celebrations such as new year’s eve, christmas, valentines
day and most especially festivals. Ilocos Norte’s capital
city Laoag celebrates Pamulinawen Festival on February 1-10,
Laoagueños celebrate and showcase the Ilocano tradition.
During this festival a cooking show dubbed ‘Dulang’
showcases different Ilocano dishes to compete among the
different sectors in the city. In the previous years,
Ilocano native rice snack “Tupig” was showcased in the show,
that can help tourists to know and to have knowledge of that
kind of food by this it can trigger them to try the food.
3. Invent a new product class through development of new Ilocos
Norte exclusive recipes and dishes using ingredients that
are harvested in the province itself, there’s actually a
newly invented dish in Ilocos Norte called “Kamangeg
cheesecake” and usual pinakbet meat stew with various
vegetables inventing the Pinakbet pizza is a Filipino pizza
variety originating from Ilocos Norte. It's traditionally
topped with vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, long
beans, okra, and bitter gourd, making it suitable for
vegetarians. The pizza is derived from pinakbet vegetable
stew and uses most of the ingredients used to prepare the
stew. Only local vegetables are traditionally used as
toppings, and it's said that the pizza has a slightly bitter
and salty finish but inventing more could be excellent and
can influence other provinces to do the same, (E.g. Tilapia
Ice Cream of Nueva Ecija).
Action Plan: The planners propose the hiring of one head
chef in different provinces to work hand-in-hand with locals
in Ilocos Norte to develop new dishes that are trademark.
Benefits: It can generate revenue for local farmers and
create jobs for residents. It can be introduced to the
market that will be recognized by the travelers/tourists
especially the gastronomically-inclined travellers. It can
give a sense of pride to the province.
Timeframe: 3 months training for interested cook plus 1 and
a half month of immersion and experimentation. After those
training and experimentation they will be competing and
choose the best Ilocos Norte-centered dish with
certification for recognizing the dish that he/she created.
4. High-touch strategy through personalizing service quality
 and development of unique service styles by using
biodegradable materials for food service and presentation
like bamboo craft, woodcraft, banana leaves for plates and
local weaving products for their tables, chairs and even in
the walls to create cultural ambiance using these kind of
materials can help the environment to lessen the plastic
use.

Some Accommodation and Amenities Offerings of Ilocos Norte:

Hannah’s Beach Resort

It is a luxury resort with
first class amenities
harmonized with the natural
beauty of Blue Lagoon of
Pagudpud and many
historical places nearby.
It is considered as the
“Tropical Paradise of the
North”, as it is located at
the heart of Ilocos Norte’s
abundant treasure of
magnificent tourist attractions.

Playa Tropical Resort Hotel

It embodies the Balinese
design, with traditionally
thatched roof design villas
that resemble Blainese
dwellings made mostly of
organic materials, this
Asian tropical style is the
perfect aesthetic for
Playa’s haven look.
 Fort Ilocandia Resort & Casino
It is the only 5-star
deluxe resort hotel in
the northern
Philippines sprawling
over 77 hectares of
land amidst gentle sand
dunes and pine forests
with a 2 kilo-meter
sandy beach facing the
South China Sea.

B. Accommodation and Amenities Development

1. Digital Minimalism. Technology can significantly impact the
guest experience, it plays an important role in exceeding
their expectations and meeting their needs. Digital
minimalism enables the guests to appreciate the ambiance
during their stay and minimize their technology usage. It is
to create balance with their engagement with what the
accommodation offers and to improve relationships with
others. To improve guest stay with digital minimalism, hotel
operators still need to provide a positive human interaction
to understand guests needs, genuine problem-solving and
provide individual attention to guests. Human interaction
makes a difference when more people are focused on
technologies as opposed to seeing the world around them.
2. Sustainable Brand. Improving and creating hotel
establishments that are sustainable and eco-friendly to
reduce wastes and impact to the environment. Making use of
locally produced materials that are made of organic
materials and to create environmentally friendly
accommodation stay. It has facilities and amenities that
offer basic essentials with well equipped rooms.
3. Homestay is an option. It is an opportunity for the guests
to interact with the locals and participate in their daily
activities. Guests are exposed to local cuisine and may have
a chance to learn how to cook the local food. For the
homestay owners, it enables them to generate income and
interact with other guests.
 4. Orient homeowners about the responsible homestay. Provide
training that will guide and help them to be more
responsible homeowners and to educate them about the
importance of the role of service providers to tourism in
the destination.
5. Environmental features utilization. The grounds are neatly
landscaped with varieties of well maintained tropical
plants. Water is not a problem as tropical rains are very
frequent in occurrence. Decorated with rustic jungle themes
that fit in perfectly with the tropical surroundings. The
food is locally sourced, organically grown and raised right
in front of the grounds of the accommodation.
6. Find a niche: Differentiate. The hotel must find services
that are unique and cannot be found in any other hotel, like
for example most of the people have pets nowadays maybe the
hotel will allow guests to bring their pets.
7. Biometric Technology for Increased Security and Efficiency.
It has made a significant leap in recent years towards
improved security and efficiency. Internally, biometrics can
help hotel and restaurant managers improve security
processes through fingerprint ID and face recognition, as
well as implement complex payment processing systems that
require elevated levels of protection against fraud.

Some Accessibility Offerings of Ilocos Norte:

Currimao Port
The port includes the
area Gaang Bay as well as
the cove marked Port
Currimao. It is an
international port of entry
and cargo is handled by
lighters at the anchorage,
which affords poor and
restricted shelter.

Patapat Viaduct
It is an elevated road-over 30 meters
above sea level. This 1.3km long
coastal bridge can be found in the
 municipality of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte. It is the fourth
longest bridge in the country, this winding concrete beauty
is said to be the northernmost part of Ilocos Norte.

Laoag International Airport

It is the main airport serving

the general area of Laoag, the capital
city of the province of Ilocos Norte
in the Philippines. It is the only
airport in Ilocos Norte and is the
northernmost airport in the
Philippines in geographical location.
C. Accessibility Development
1. Alternative transportation. Transportation on a horse-drawn
box-like carriage on two wheels providing service from one
place to another. This serves as an alternative mode of
transportation that allows tourists to experience the place
and appreciate it more at a slower pace.
2. Impose Environmental Fee. It is to ensure sustainable
tourism in the destination and maintain the cleanliness of
its surroundings. The environmental fee collected must be
used for the betterment and maintenance of the destination.
3. Limit the capacity of tourists. It is to prevent the
overutilization of the destination through limiting the
capacity of tourists who visit the place. Identifying the
carrying capacity of the destination enables a sustainable
environment. The authorities must monitor the number of
tourists who visit the destination to set a limit.
4. Establish a Tourism Information Center. Provide information
about the daily activities in the destination and necessary
updates in the location. It is for more convenient and
faster dissemination of information about the destination
such as the accommodations, maps, transportations and tour
guides available.
5. Safety & Security Emergency Contact Number. Every
transportation needs to have a list of numbers that are
pasted inside and outside that can easily be seen by the
local and foreign tourists or having a card sized paper that
contains all the contact numbers of every department of
safety and security upon arrival for them to know who to
 contact when an accident happens or emergency.

Some Attraction Offerings of Ilocos Norte:

La Paz Sand Dunes

It is a unique
attraction in the city of
Laoag for being a sandy
coastal desert with an area
of 85 square kilometers. It
is considered to be a
National Geological Monument
because of its uniqueness of
being a desert environment.
Bangui Windmills
It is a group of 20 wind
turbines lined up along the
scenic shoreline fronting
the West Philippine Sea.
Towering with the height of
70 meters and with huge 40-
meter long propellers, these
windmills seem to be white
ferocious giants fighting up
the winds in unison.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

It was erected as part
of Spain’s master plan
of illuminating the
Philippines. After over
100 years, it still
functions as a
welcoming beacon to the
international ships
that enter the
Philippines from the
north and guide them
safely away from the
rocky coast of the town.
D. Attractions Development
1. Beaches
a. Water Sports- The Blue Lagoon invites visitors to dive
in, swim, sail away and indulge in a vast array of all-
inclusive water sports. The visitors can choose to fly
across the water propelled by wind, motor or plain old
muscle power or dive beneath its pristine surface. This
activity may appeal to adventurous people. Hannah’s
Beach Resort offers water sports such as banana boat,
pedal boat, speed boat, surfing, jet skiing and
kayaking.
b. Snorkeling- It is a rewarding activity where visitors
can jump off the boat to enjoy the corals and witness
the undersea life in the ocean of Pagudpud. Visitors
can swim while they are equipped with a diving mask, a
snorkel and swim fins.
c. Yachting and Boating- The visitors can rent a luxury
boat or yacht by contacting the rental agency. It is an
activity where visitors can enjoy the ambiance in the
sea.
2. Mountains
a. Zipline- Hannah’s zipline which spans 1.2 kilometer, is
reportedly the longest over the water in the whole
world. The zipline was constructed to provide visitors
with the ride of their lives. The adrenaline rush of
the launch from the mountain, the 80kph speed, the view
of the exotic flora and fauna of the azure and pristine
waters below will definitely be a 360 degree feast for
the senses.
b. Rock Climbing- There are a lot of rock formations in
the province, however, the most popular is the
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation where visitors could freely
chamber up the rockheads and take those top-of-world
shots. Visitors can also ride a horse or walk to reach
the rock formations. Picnics under the outcrops is a
common thing to do in the place, as well as unguided
tours in the destination.
c. Caving- Bantay Abot Cave means “a mountain with a
hole”, with an exceptional formation embracing the
clear blue sea. The whole sight of the little mountain
 is an image of a green whale resting ashore. Visitors
can enjoy walking on the shallow waters and an ideal
place for pictorial.
3. Desert
a. Sandboarding- Paoay Sand Dunes and La Paz Sand Dunes
are a sandy coastal desert. In sandboarding, visitors
have some options such as standing board, solo sitting
sled and duo sitting sled.
b. 4x4 ride- The 4x4 ride takes visitors on a thrilling
off-road joyride across the sand dunes over the
viewpoints.
c. ATV- The visitors can have an ATV ride in the sand
dunes while enjoying the view of the desert and sea.
They can tour around the sand dunes with the powerful
and compact ATVs.
4. Waterfalls
a. Waterfall massage- It is an activity for people who
want to relax while appreciating nature. They can do
this activity at Kabigan Falls, Tanap Avis Falls, Ka-
angrian Falls and Abang Falls. It is a therapeutic
massage with one of a kind experience.
b. Cliff Jumping- This activity is for people who are
adventurous that look for something different and
thrilling at the same time. It is a perfect activity in
Tanap Avis Falls, where visitors can jump from the
cliffs of different heights and swim on a deep clear
blue water.

E. Infrastructure Development

Ilocos Norte’s main asset is its natural and cultural sites

with affordable accommodation to stay.Ilocos Norte has so much
development potential. If you look at the topography, Ilocos
Norte have the lowlands, midlands, and the highlands. Each of the
23 towns and cities can be destination areas. The proponents want
to develop and maintain the physical facilities and natural
tourist attractions without causing unnecessary harm to the
ecosystem, environment, residents and especially the health and
welfare of the people who are visiting.

The proponents believe that the best way to approach the

first year infrastructure development in Ilocos Norte is by only
building facilities that are necessary for the product
development. This will also ensure that no extra cost, time and
effort will be wasted in this development.

Even though the proponents use the Product-Led approach, It

is important for the development to not cause any harm to the
existing product by contemplating and sustaining the natural and
cultural destination that Ilocos Norte has. Some of the
infrastructure that the proponents see fit to build in the
municipality are the following:

1. Cable Car. It can be used as another mode of transportation

and can reduce traffic congestion in the land area. It can
be solar or steam-powered engine, There powerful electric
motors (originally a stationary steam-powered engine) drive
giant winding wheels that pull cables through a trench
beneath the street, centered under the cable car tracks
(that's what's in that slot between the tracks). Since
Ilocos Norte has windmills in the area it is possible for
this to operate.
2. Dinner in the sky. Since Ilocos Norte is a big province and
has many activities, this kind of infrastructure can help
locals and foreign tourists to enjoy the view of the whole
province while relaxing and eating their dinner.
3. Gear Sheds and First Aid room. Ilocos Norte has so many to
offer, one of these is the natural attraction like in the
municipality of Pagudpud which have beaches and other
activities like diving, boating and snorkeling that needed
to have some storage for the equipment. Safety and security
of the tourists is very crucial, creating a small first aid
room can help to reduce some accidents and it will be aid
immediately.

Recent Infrastructure Project of Ilocos Norte.

"BIG 3" INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

The construction of the Provincial Capitol expansion
building, reconstruction of the Dap-ayan Food Park, and total
rehabilitation of the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium are
remarkable parts of Senator-elect Imee R. Marcos’ master plan for
Metro Ilocos which will be realized under the new administration
of incoming Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc.
The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) will conduct the
groundbreaking of these projects on June 28,2019. But as of now
the project is not yet started.

F. Management and Mitigation of Tourism Impacts

The tourism planners plan to lessen the negative impacts

ahead of time in the development of Ilocos Norte. Actions that
will be taken to prevent negative tourism impacts will be
acquired to ensure that certain damages will be minimized and
therefore lessen the future cost for reparation of those possible
damages.

1. Promote the use of eco-friendly bags in local businesses to

lessen the usage of plastic bags. Since Ilocos Norte is
promoting “think green”, by observing the 3Rs, environmental
awareness is being observed in the province. In the market
and souvenir shops, the use of eco-friendly bags must be
encouraged. The use of organic based packages in packing
goods.
2. Putting trash bins with proper segregation labels in
frequently visited areas. It is an effective way for waste
management and recycling. It lessens the litter and helps
maintain the cleanliness in the area.
3. Zoning. It is to ensure that tourism activities are done at
a sustainable level to increase benefits and limit the
negative impacts to the destination. Infrastructure
development should be planned accordingly, while leaving
certain areas inaccessible to tourists to preserve the
 naturally rich areas and to ensure the safety of the
tourists.
4. Impose environmental fee. In order to maintain the
destination, the government can impose an environmental fee
to visitors. Through this, they will be able to determine
the number of tourists who visit a certain destination at a
given time. It is to ensure sustainable tourism in the
destination and maintain the cleanliness of its
surroundings. The environmental fee collected must be used
for the betterment and maintenance of the destination.
5. Limit the capacity of tourists. To monitor the number of
tourists who visit the destination, the data must be
collected by the authorities to set a limit for the number
of visitors that can visit the place at a certain time and
day. It is to prevent the overutilization of the destination
through limiting the capacity of tourists who visit the
place. Identifying the carrying capacity of the destination
enables a sustainable environment.
6. Orient the tourists about the do’s and don'ts upon
registration. Upon arrival, it is better if the visitors
will have an orientation about the do’s and don’ts in the
destination for their awareness. Through this, environmental
and social impacts on the locals will be prevented.
7. Green infrastructure development. It is to increase the
exposure to the natural environment and to achieve a better
place for sustainability. It is an opportunity for visitors
to enjoy recreational and physical activities.
8. Improve public transportation. When the public
transportation is improved, visitors will be encouraged to
commute. It is one of the better ways in reducing negative
environmental impacts of urban mobility.

To ensure that these practices are effective and being

observed by the local and foreign tourists. Ilocos Norte
residents along with the government are encouraged to do the
policing of the tourists actions, for the tourists they must need
to think about their actions if they can harm the environment,
ecosystem, residents and the destination itself. If they will not
comply with these said policing they will be facing consequences.

In addition, there shall be an inspection or person assigned

to monitor every action of the tourists (twice-thrice a year).
Residents and governments must help each other to create a group
consisting of representatives of public/private stakeholders for
them to know how they can improve and what new practices that can
be employed to everyone’s benefit.

G. Site Plan
H. Marketing Plan
Market Analysis and Research
The proponents underwent research on some of the vloggers'
experiences review and assumptive approach since the planners
cannot go by themselves to the province because of the pandemic
that is still happening today. This kind of analysis and research
establish the following findings when it comes to the possible
market placement of Ilocos Norte.

a. Target Market and Potential Market

Ilocos Norte can cater various kinds of travellers like
leisure travellers, holidaymakers, Expedition members/travellers,
backpackers and adventure travellers. Since it encompasses
natural and cultural destinations it will serve as a retreat for
people who want to engage in so much activity and appreciating
historical and cultural landmarks.

It can also appeal to the young travellers, elderly

travellers, foreign and local visitors, disabled travellers, solo
travellers, novelty travellers or those who want to experience
something new and travellers who want to engage in nature.

b. Competition
The proponents seek to employ a concept called “Design
activities that are suitable for the place’s natural assets”
since the province is rich of nature like the municipality of
Pagudpud that offers many destinations that link to nature which
are the Kabigan falls, Bantay Abot Cave beaches, resorts and the
like. “Take advantage of man-made features” aside from natural
assets the province also has man-made destinations that showcase
the historical and cultural background of the place, some
examples are Paoay Church, Malacañang of the North, Sinking Bell
Tower and many more. Last concept is “Complement, Don’t Compete”
cooperating with your neighboring provinces, municipalities and
city can create marketing destinations using tourism circuits, it
enables travellers to easily know their destination and what kind
activities they will be expecting to the place. Since Ilocos
Norte has the same assets of Ilocos Sur and it is a nearby
province it is much better to cooperate with them.
c. SWOT Analysis
Strengths
● Has numerous cultural,
historical natural
attractions.
● Generally, good roads that
provide easy access to
major cities and
destinations
● Has the wind power and has
a significant impact, so
an analyst should put more
weight into it.
Opportunities
● Pagudpud – Bangui area in
Ilocos Norte is being
developed.
● All the components
provinces are part ofNorth
Quad Growth area
● There is a good
opportunity for linkages
with agriculture, such as
diversified fruit farming,
fish cage culture and food
processing.
I. Marketing Strategies
Following the “Design activities that are suitable for the
place’s natural assets”, “Take advantage of man-made features”,
Weaknesses
● Located a great distance
from NCR
● There are many tourist
that throw garbage into
the water that can cause
contamination
● Attractions are far from
one another
Threats
● Earthquake prone.
● High level of salt
intrusion in many parts
of the coastal zone.
● Competition. Since it is
situated at the top most
part of the philippines
there are issues
concerning distance and
the hassle it brings like
long travel time so the
catch is people will tend
to go for the nearest
place that can offer the
ultimate tourism
experience.
“Complement, Don’t Compete” strategies of the tourism planners,
most of the marketing will involve finding and establishing
partnerships and forging deals for mutual benefit both residents
and tourists. As such, the strategies are as follows:

1. Market Ilocos Norte to the tour operator and travel agents

as top bucket lists destination and as inclusive tour like
offering tour packages that covers the most visited
attractions in the area with affordable prices.
2. Market Ilocos Norte to ecological agencies and
organizations, since Ilocos Norte is rich with natural
attractions and heritage. Some of the attractions
development that have been proposed in the previous chapter
can cater to the different needs and wants of the visitors
in terms of recreational activities such as surfing, cliff
jumping and rock climbing. There is also the presence of
ziplines perfect for people who want to experience an
adrenaline rush with an overlooking view of the beach and
mountains.

The tourism planners want to establish an effective Digital

Marketing since it is far-reaching, cheap to almost costless, and
is a necessary tool for communications, correspondence and
promotions. Internet users are highly knowledgeable because of
their easy access to information so it is essential that these
internet-centered consumers are given transparency, consistency,
and a means to communicate with the tourism officers in Ilocos
Norte.

1. Facebook- The travel groups and niche groups existence

makes it more convenient for the tourism planners and
marketers to locate and communicate with them. Facebook
is a platform that allows the uploading of media such
as pictures, videos, and basic information, all of
which are the foremost things that the users of
Facebook consider when availing a product/service or
before going to a certain place.
2. Email- A central email account for Ilocos Norte’s
tourism office can serve as the core of necessary
communication. It is through this platform that the
tourism officers can formally communicate with certain
 institutions that are interested in becoming partners.

Other strategies that do not fall under the first two are
listed as miscellaneous marketing strategies and these are:
1. Open Ilocos Norte to students and professors who want
to conduct studies in the area.
2. Offer familiarization tours and educational tours to
travel agents and tour operators.
3. Exporting the local products to mainstream markets,
like the ones in Pagudpud or in Laoag City.
4. Marketing products through participating in Trade Fairs
to promote products and tourism in Ilocos Norte.

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