SANTA ANA, Cagayan, May 20 (PIA) – For tourist wanting a visit to the now-famous tourist destinations of this municipality, make it next year.

This, after the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) ordered the closure of four of its major attractions to would-be visitors to provide the locale for the on-going shoot of the British reality television show , ‘Survivor’ from May 7 to end of August this year.

In a letter furnished to members of the Santa Ana Hotel Accommodations, Resorts and Restaurants Association (SAHARRA), Engineer Julian Gonzales, CEZA Officer- in- Charge
Identified the areas as Siwangag and Cape Engano in historical Palaui Island and the beaches of Anguib, Pozo Robo and Gotan.

“The closure in only temporary and will benefit the areas covered. We apologize for the inconvenience,” Gonzales said.

He said that with the activity, CEZA aims to bring more tourism activities in the region while exposing the natural wonders in the area in the international stage while maintains its cleanliness and appeal.

CEZA reiterated the assurance of the show’s producer, RTVAI to respect the environment and that all movements will be done with care for nature and the wildlife it supports.

The residents, particularly along the areas covered by the show, expressed apprehensions over the conduct of the shoots.

“It might be treasure hunting as people in Palaui have seen mining detector gadgets used by the crew,” a resident said.

Earlier, CEZA and DENR were tightlipped on the show for unknown reasons.

However, SAHARRA members said at least 600 production crew including ‘castaways’ were already billeted in at least three resorts for a few days while Sun City casino got the biggest share of the crew.

The arrival of the show was likewise welcomed by the Department of Tourism regional director Blessida Diwa.

Meanwhile, re-electionist Mayor Darwin Tobias claimed the local government unit was never consulted nor was notified of the presence of the crew more than a month after they arrived.

It was learned that CEZA took the cudgels of negotiating to the people especially those affected in Palaui island.

Palaui Island is a protected land and seascape declared by the government as early as the 1990s. Years before its declaration, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources region 2 declared a portion of the waters surrounding the island a fish sanctuary.

Privately-owned Anguib, Gotan and Pozo Robo resorts offer course white sand beaches with very little amenities and limited areas for swimming.

“It is wrong for tourism drumbeaters to call Anguib beach as the Boracay of the North,” a peeved travel writer who requested anonymity said.