Albay foreign tourist arrivals up 516 percent

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Foreign tourist arrivals in Albay have increased by 516 percent in the past nine months compared to the same period last year, according to the Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office.

The PTCAO reported yesterday that from 835 foreigners who visited Albay from January to September last year, the number ballooned to 5,146 this year.

The number of local tourists increased to 906,758 in the past nine months compared to 608,593 during the same period last year. It represents an increase of 48.99 percent.

PTCAO chief Dorothy Colle said the easing of restrictions due to COVID and the non-violent eruption of Mayon Volcano contributed to the increase in foreign tourists.

“The view of the cone-shaped Mayon Volcano oozing with lava in a non-violent manner attracts tourists in our province, especially at night,” Colle told The STAR.

Mayon continued to show signs of abnormal activity in the past 24 hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said 30 volcanic earthquakes, 127 rockfall events and 1,838 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions were recorded.

Lava flows have reached 3.4 kilometers, 2.8 kilometers and 1.1 kilometers in its gullies in Legazpi City, Daraga and Sto. Domingo, respectively.

Rockfalls and pyroclastic density currents are still within four kilometers of the crater.