Bicol tourist arrivals hit 1 million in 5 months

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines  —  Tourist arrivals in Bicol have reached nearly one million since January, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

“Almost all our hotels in Bicol are fully booked... Some enterprising families with houses near tourist destinations have been accepting tourists for a few days’ stay,” Benjamin Santiago, DOT-Bicol director, told The STAR.

Santiago attributed the surge in tourist arrivals to the closure of Boracay and white sand beaches in the region.

He cited the beaches on the islands of Caramoan in Camarines Sur, Ticao in Masbate and Calaguas in Camarines Norte as well as in Albay.

Santiago said hot and cold springs in Albay and Sorsogon are also luring local and foreign visitors.

Santiago said stakeholders were advised to improve their services and upgrade their facilities to lure more tourists.

“Now is the time to showcase the services and facilities  our tourist spot operators are offering,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mambajao Mayor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo said more tourists are coming to Camiguin even before Boracay was closed.

 Romualdo said Camiguin could stand alone as a tourism haven.

“Camiguin is Camiguin. The influx of tourists continues to rise with or without the shutdown of Boracay,” he said. 

Citing records at the DOT Northern Mindanao office, Romualdo said more than 600,000 tourists visited the island last year. – With Gerry Lee Gorit