MULING kinilala ng Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) ang Clark bilang “sports tourism destination of the year”.

Iginawad ng PSTA ang award sa Clark para sa pagho-host ng mahigit 200 event mula noong nakaraang taon, kabilang ang mga fun run, marathon, triathlon, at duathlon at iba pang laro tulad ng football at baseball, cycling at iba pang sports-related activities.

Bukod dito, naging destinasyon din ang Clark para sa Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibits (MICE).

Ito ang ikalawang pagkakataon na makatanggap ang Clark ng nasabing pagkilala mula sa PSTA.

Noong 2015, pinangalanan din itong Destination of the Year ng PSTA, matapos makapagtala ng 112,069 tourists visit sa Freeport dahil sa mga outdoor sports activities.

Tinanggap ni Noel Manankil, president at chief executive officer ng Clark Development Corporation (CDC), kasama ang CDC tourism manager Noemi Julian at assistant manager Elenita Lorenzo ang award sa idinaos ng ikatlong edisyon ng Sports Tourism Awards nitong Martes sa Grand Wing Lounge of Resorts World Manila.

Pinasalamatan naman ni Manankil ang PSTA sa naging pagkilala sa Clark bilang isang “premier destination.”

Hinikayat din niya ang iba pang mga samahan na sangkot sa sports-tourism management na bisitahin ang Clark at puntahan ang mga bagong tayong sports facilities sa New Clark City (NCC).

“On behalf of the Clark family, Clark Development Corporation, Clark International Airport, and our parent company Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), we would like to thank you (PSTA) for this award. I would also like to extend a personal invitation to all of you (sports-tourism management organizations) to visit Clark Freeport and New Clark City where you will see new sports facilities that we Filipinos will be very proud of,” pahayag nito sa isang panayam.

Samantala, isang magandang pagkakataon naman umano pakay PSTA founder Charles Lim ang pakamit nila ng Sport Tourism Awards, na kasabay ng Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) sa bansa.

Binigyang-diin din niya ang mga modernong pasilidad na makikita sa NCC.

“I feel that it also very timely that they have upgraded the sports facilities in the country and for those of you who have not seen the facilities in New Clark City such as the stadium and aquatics center, I urge you to visit these magnificent facilities and I’m sure you will be very proud of it,” amiya.

Inorganisa ang PSTA ng Selrahco Management, katuwang ang Department of Tourism, Primetime Group, at Philippine Sports Commission.