The heritage town of Argao, a coastal town along Cebu Strait about a two-hour drive south of Cebu City, has embraced modern eco-sports as part of its tourism offerings.
The historic town is presented as “a sprawling natural wonder endowed with pristine coastal waters, white-sand beaches and rolling hills and mountains” that is now welcoming eco-sports tourism, according to a Department of Tourism (DOT) report.
This cultural heritage municipality, one of the early settlements established in 1608 during the Spanish era, celebrated its 411th Founding Anniversary in September with the launch of two eco-sports tourism programs: the fast-growing water sport skimboarding and downhill skateboard riding.
A skimboard rider uses a smaller surfboard without fins to glide across the water’s surface and meet an incoming wave and ride it back to shore.
Skimboarders perform a variety of surface maneuvers including “wraps,” “big spins,” “360 shove-its” and “180s.” Unlike surfing, skimboarding begins on the beach by dropping the board onto the thin wash of previous waves. Using their momentum to skim out to breaking waves, the riders then catch back into shore.
Downhill skateboarding offers the rider the thrill of going through the rolling hills and mountains with a view of the Spanish colonial coastal town and its heritage structures.
Around 100 skimboarding and downhill boarding participants competed in beginners and advanced categories during the 10-day festivities that culminated on September 29, 2019.
Other sites to see in Argao include:
1. Spanish colonial well-preserved heritage sites and Augustinian structures like the San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church
2. white-sand beaches and pristine waters
3. caves, unspoiled rivers, and waterfalls
4. lush-green forests surrounding Mt. Lantoy, a habitat for rare wildlife
“We fully support the Department of Tourism’s sustainable and inclusive tourism development program, particularly Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat’s advocacy of eco-farm and food tourism,” said Argao Mayor Allan Sesaldo.
Mayor Sesaldo also announced their conservation project called “Love Forest” where Argao visitors can plant or adopt a tree that will be permanently labeled individually with their respective names as the sponsor.
The Department of Tourism has announced its priority program for sustainable tourism with a particular focus on farm tourism and food tourism.
SEND congratulations in the comments below to the people of Argao in Cebu for launching their eco-sports tourism program!
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