Super Typhoon Uwan’s devastation has severely damaged Aurora’s tourism sector, including a number of businesses near Baler’s well-known Sabang Beach, which is regarded as the origin of Philippine surfing.

While waves encourage surfing, Uwan’s onslaught on Sunday caused enormous waves that reached heights of 15 feet as a result of the storm surge, which essentially stopped tourism in Baler.

The baywalk and businesses along Sabang Beach, such as hotels, coffee shops, and restaurants, were demolished by the storm surge.

The storm surge inundated Marivic Namuro’s lodging home with massive volumes of sand and smashed glass walls.

Barangay Zabali’s roads leading to the well-known Diguisit Rock Formation were seriously damaged.

The small seaside eateries that provided many people with their primary source of income were also engulfed by the waves.

As he rebuilds his modest shop in anticipation of the slow return of tourists, Michael Nasalita is back to zero.

The devastating storm surge in Dinadiwan reduced hotels and resorts to rubble in the town of Dipaculao.

The Vic-Ann Resort’s caretaker, Marizel Nervar, is uncertain about her future employment.

The Provincial Tourism Office claims that because of the devastation of hotels and resorts, they are afraid that Uwan will have a major detrimental effect on Aurora’s tourism sector.

“Masakit isipin, ito po naman ang panahon na tumatak ang ating tourist arrivals sa ngayon ay hindi masabi kung makakabangon kami by next month,” stated Rizan Mendoza, the provincial tourism officer for Aurora.

Owners of hotels and resorts pleaded with the government to help them rebuild.

Mendoza promised to try to get the national government to listen to the worries of the impacted hotel and resort owners.

“Sa ngayon iniri-raise din natin ito sa national government because from the Department of Tourism very limited pa rin ang kaya nating maibigay sa kanila para ito ay maiparating natin sa Pangulo kasi most of the time yung ating investors ay hindi masyadong nabibigyan ng pansin na mabigyan din ng tulong,” she continued.

The storm has affected some 2,400 tourism workers, who could lose their jobs as a result of the devastation of tourist attractions.

Over P351 million has been damaged to Aurora’s tourism sector.