More sports activities are being planned by Talisayan town, Misamis Oriental province in order to boost tourism activities.

The local government is targeting to host an international paragliding event in 2024 as it aspires to become Northern Mindanao’s paragliding destination.

Mayor Rico Taray said the decision was based on the success of paragliding event that lured 54 participants, including two foreigners, on July 14 to 16.

Joey Galao of Nueva Ecija ruled the event.

“We are overwhelmed with the outcome of the opening (of the event over the weekend). A bigger event next year may invite more foreign competitors to join,” he said in an interview.

Paragliders had to achieve an accurate landing from the starting point, which was 1,000 feet elevation.

In an interview Tuesday, Christian Bonn Gonzales, officer-in-charge at the Project Management Office of the local government, said scuba diving and free diving events will also be within the year.

“A motocross competition is also slated in our charter day on August 9. We are inviting local and foreign riders,” he said.

In his first State of the Nation Address last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stressed the tourism sector’s importance as an economic development tool and a job-generating industry that benefits even the grassroots level.

Marcos enjoined the Tourism and Public Works departments to make it more convenient for travelers to go around the country and provide them easier access to remote areas and undiscovered tourist spots.

“To boost our tourism industry, we will first and foremost make basic developments such as road improvements for easier access to tourism spots. We will also upgrade our airports and create more international airports to help decongest the bottleneck at the Manila International Airport,” the President said. (PNA)