Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Draws 30,000 Visitors, Positions New Clark City as Emerging Hub for Tourism and Community Engagement

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Draws 30,000 Visitors, Positions New Clark City as Emerging Hub for Tourism and Community Engagement | CAPAS, Tarlac — Nearly 30,000 spectators from across the Philippines and abroad gathered over three days for the 26th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) at New Clark City, transforming the emerging township into a vibrant venue for aviation, recreation, and community celebration.

Photo credit: Teddy Pelaez

Families, tourists, and aviation enthusiasts filled the grounds as sunrise balloon ascents, night glow displays, paragliding exhibitions, and paper plane competitions animated the skies. Pilots from Macedonia, Brazil, Switzerland, Belgium, the United States, and other countries joined the event, underscoring its growing international appeal.

Photo credit: Teddy Pelaez

For the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the strong turnout demonstrated how former military lands can be repurposed into inclusive public spaces that support tourism, recreation, and shared community experiences.

BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang said hosting the festival aligns with the national government’s push to maximize public assets and ensure infrastructure investments deliver tangible benefits to communities.

“This event is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that major developments directly improve the lives of Filipinos and generate real economic impact for our communities,” he said. “Beyond the figures, what we witnessed was families spending a day of love and joy together, balikbayans returning home, and foreign visitors discovering New Clark City for the first time.”

Photo credit: Teddy Pelaez

Branded “A Weekend of Everything That Flies,” the festival was led by founder and event director Jose Mari Roa, positioning New Clark City as a large-scale venue for sports tourism, aviation showcases, and public engagement.

Bingcang added that the collaboration highlights the city’s readiness to host major gatherings while keeping spaces accessible and community-oriented.

Meanwhile, Christian Tell Yap emphasized the event’s economic and social benefits for the province.

“This boosted the province economically and socially, with a clear ripple effect on hotels, tour operators, and small businesses,” Yap said. “We aim to sustain initiatives like this to strengthen tourism-driven growth in Central Luzon.”