LA UNION – The 17th La Union Surfing Break is set to take place from November 3 to 5, spanning the municipalities of San Juan, Bacnotan, and Luna. The event aims to spotlight sustainable and responsible tourism in the region.
According to a new release by the Philippines News Agency, one of the event's highlights will be "Journey with the Flippers," an educational campaign focused on teaching the public about interacting responsibly with local wildlife, particularly sea turtles known as "pawikans." "This is to inform tourists on how to keep our beach clean and safe not just for humans but also for the pawikans so they will not be disturbed," said Manabat.
Manabat further stated that Luna has been added as a new venue for the event, recognizing its emergence as one of the up-and-coming surfing sites in La Union. Meanwhile, certain local government units have chosen to abstain from participating in the surfing break in order to focus on their own town festivals.
Prior to the main event, a surfing competition took place on October 23-24 at Waves Point Urbiztondo in San Juan. The November event will also feature a range of other activities, including a beach clean-up drive, free surfing clinics, a surfboard painting competition, and concerts featuring both local and national artists.
Though the event primarily targets young professionals, family-oriented activities will also be included this year to broaden the event's appeal. Historically, most attendees have come from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and MIMAROPA. Manabat revealed that last year’s Surfing Break saw at least 8,000 foot traffic per day, with up to 6,000 tourists staying in accommodations. According to the La Union Waters and Adventures Visit Hour Experience Survey, the event generated about PHP4 million in tourism receipts.
For this year, the tourism office aims to increase tourist arrivals by five percent. Manabat also issued a warning for potential tourists to be cautious when booking accommodations, advising them to opt for Department of Tourism-accredited establishments to avoid scams. Law enforcement personnel will be deployed to ensure security throughout the Surfing Break season.