The Department of Tourism-Central Luzon (DOT-3) will soon launch a new tourism circuit to boost the tourism industry in the region.

DOT-3 Regional Director Carolina Uy said on Thursday they are developing a World War II historical tour that will cover the significant sites in the region.

The historical sites, Uy said, include Mt. Samat, Corregidor Island, Capas National Shrine, and other landmarks in Clark, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija.

She said the DOT-3 has trained guides for the World War II tour that will be instrumental in reliving history for tourists.

“They will serve as storytellers that will bring us back to the World War II era. This is one of the projects that we are excited to launch, hopefully, late this year,” she said in a radio interview.

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Uy said the DOT-3 is continuously developing programs that will help revive the tourism industry in Central Luzon.

She said the DOT-3 had validated some new and emerging tourist destinations in the region.

The DOT official said one of the trends that emerged during the pandemic is the patronage of tourists for wide and open spaces like farms, eco-tourism sites, and glamping sites, which Central Luzon now offers in support of moves toward economic recovery.

“Nasa daan na tayo patungo sa recovery at may figure tayo na nagpapakita nito (We are on the road toward recovery and we have figures to show that),” she said.

She said there is a 64 percent increase in tourist arrivals or 1,261,030 in the region during the third semester of this year as against the same period last year. (PNA)