SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Tourist arrivals in this premier Freeport reached 408,800 during the Holy Week, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department.

The department said this figure exceeded last year’s 367,228 arrival record by 54,384, roughly an increase of 14.8 percent.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that this has significantly contributed to the hotel occupancy rate, which has remained at 99 percent.

San Roque Chapel, one of the oldest chapels in the country, has become a favorite crowd-drawer for devout Catholics during the Holy Week, as it drew an estimated crowd of 10,350.

“San Roque Chapel has been a quiet refuge for devout Catholics who spend their vacations here,” Aliño noted. He said that Catholic traditions such as processions, the “pabasa”, and “salubong” draw crowds here every year.

SBMA Tourism manager Mary Jamelle Camba said the staging of a food festival here this year contributed to the surge of visitors at the Boardwalk area.

“The Food Fest offered better activities, food options, and entertainment. These changes in crowd count may suggest that visitors had different preferences for their activities during the week,” Camba shared.

Data gathered from Visitor Information Centers in Subic revealed a decrease in the total number of inquiries for direction, something brought about by the effectiveness of either digital access to information or improved area navigation. Only 97 inquiries were recorded this year, compared to last year’s 108 inquiries.

Likewise, only three vehicular accidents occurred this year, compared to last year’s four.  However, ambulance runs increased by five due to the high heat index. 