Badian eyes 50% hike in tourist arrivals for 2025

CEBU, Philippines — The local government of Badian is targeting at least 50 percent increase in tourist arrivals to the town’s well-known tourism destinations, especially the Kawasan Falls and canyoneering activities.

Badian Tourism Officer Earl Endab expressed optimism that more visitors will come and enjoy the wonders their town can offer this year.

Currently, Badian is catering at least 1,000 guests a day exploring not just the Kawasan Falls, the canyoneering but also the Lambug Beach, which is becoming famous for its pristine waters and powder white sands.

“Mao na ang among aim nga this year, mosaka siya. We are positive nga more this year, at least 40-50% nga increase from 2024,” Endab told The Freeman.

With the target increase of tourist arrivals, the LGU also aims to translate this into more revenues from its tourism sector.

According to Endab, Badian’s tourism industry contributed a total of P500 million in 2024, which was shared by tour operators, tour guides, the local government unit and the Cebu Provincial Government.

For its canyoneering service, the regulated rate per head is P2,000 from the previous P1,500, with inclusions of the tour guide accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT), operator, food, water, energy bar, canyoneering gears, as well as the administrative and environmental regulatory fees.

This fee collected from the tourists is set forth in the separate ordinances approved by the Local Government of Badian and the Cebu Provincial Government, which provided regulations for canyoneering. Excluded in the rate is the transportation fee.

The new rate took effect in October 2023, when Kawasan Falls and the canyoneering activities were reopened to the public after undergoing rehabilitation.   The falls was closed and the canyoneering activities were stopped after the town was among the areas severely hit by typhoon Odette in 2021.

The approved rating for canyoneering “has been carefully determined to ensure the safety and satisfaction of tourists while supporting the sustainable development” of the town’s tourism industry, the LGU stated.

“Ato man gud nakita ang importansya sa pagprotect sa environment ug pagregulate ani atong activity after incident of Odette, maong naa tay mga changes nga gi-install sa atong canyoneering area, maong gi-higher nato ang rate, plus atong additional water and and energy bar para sa atong tourist” Endab said.

The revenue earned from the added rate will also ensure that the tourism sites will be well-maintained not just to attract more tourists but also to ensure their safety.

He added that they also changed the number of guests that would be handled by a canyoneering guide from four guests per guide to one guide per guest.  — /JG (FREEMAN)