Manila, March 27 -- A new tourist rest area (TRA) will soon rise in this island municipality, sprucing up the destination as Batanes seeks to court more local and foreign tourists.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco led the groundbreaking rites for the project on the sidelines of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) Batanes leg on Thursday.

The TRA, funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), is a flagship program of the Department of Tourism (DOT) where travelers can lounge in between their tours on the island and buy from a variety of local crafts and products unique to Batanes.

"It is our sincere hope that our tourists that come to the breathtaking province of Batanes and make their way to the stun...