MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief
Cebu’s Bantayan Island is leading the race for the country’s top tourist’s destination in 2008, as listed by Philippine Travel Blog (PTB) Website.
Following Cebu is Boracay Island’s White Beach; Puraran Beach, Panglao Island in Bohol; Honda Bay in Palawan; Muelle Bay, Puerto Galera in Mindoro Island; Malapascua Island in Cebu and Amanpulo, Pamalican in Palawan.
The travel blog likewise mentioned the province of Camarines Sur as among fastest growing tourist destinations in the country with the same category as those in Bohol and Palawan, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.
Tourism Sec. Ace Durano said he is confident tourist visits to Camarines Sur will be doubled this year with the opening of the newest tourist spot in Gota Beach in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.
Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte recently developed Gota Beach, located in the Caramoan Peninsula. The beach and those of nearby islands like Lahuy, Bitanglaya have white, powdery sand and the waters that surround them are crystal-clear.
It was the site where the French edition of the popular TV series “Survivor,” was filmed. Shooting was completed last week, to be aired soon in Europe.
Durano said being a location venue for shootings is one way of promoting Caramoan in the European and international market.
Based on DOT 2007 figures, tourist arrivals in Camarines Sur jumped by 41 percent compared to the number of visitors to the province in 2006, PTB said.
Of the 456,911 tourists who visited the province last year, 411,285 were locals while 45,626 were foreigners.
The latest DOT report showed there were 897,680 tourist arrivals in the region last year, or an increase of 41 percent from 2006’s record of 637,127. Of the total number of arrivals, 792,072 were local tourists and 105,608 were foreigners.
As this developed, Misamis Occidental’s nightly news broadcast Patrol sa Kalamboan reported that the province is still hopeful it will still grab the highest point in tourism visits this year.
“Siguro ma-apektuhan sa global financial crisis ang turismo sa Misamis Occidental, pero nagtoo ang Provincial Tourism Office nga dili gihapon kita ma-iwit sa top tourist destinations sa Pilipinas karong tuiga,” PSK said.
Provincial Tourism Officer Karl Imanuel Aoanan said the recent visit of President Gloria Arroyo and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith in Dolphin Island and Wildlife Sanctuary would entice tourists to come and take pleasure in the amenities of the province.
To recall, the province came second last year as the country’s top tourist destination, whisking Boracay out of the position as the country’s leading travel destination.
The ranking came after Misamis Occidental, in terms of foreign and local visitors, posted the second highest number of visitors after Cebu City as “top tourist destinations,” a position formerly held by Baguio City, the “Summer Capital.”
The DOT has recorded an overall 748,006 local and foreign tourists in Cebu for the year while 526,367 visits were recorded from this province, purged from its list of one million, as reported by Sinacaban Mayor Delio Lood in this paper’s Oct. 1-7 issue.
Baguio City has 441,863 visitors while Boracay has close to 400,000 and Davao is fifth, with 300,000.
“Cebu and Misamis Occidental are now considered the new prime destinations, dislodging Boracay Island in Aklan province,” the DOT then said in its report.
“Misamis Occidental is known for its beautiful waters and bountiful fish and seafood for export. Layawan River in Oroquieta City is a constant recipient of the national environmental award, Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran, as Cleanest Inland Body of Water,” continued the report.
“One other place is also drawing tourists to this coastal province – the city of Tangub, which comes alive especially at Christmas,” the report noted.
Tangub City Mayor Jennifer Tan, in email then sent to PANGUIL BAY MONITOR, expressed her appreciation to residents “not only for the support of her programs but also to the warm hospitality extended to guests.”
Tan said, “the reason why the city was included to the top tourist destination in the Philippines is not only of the beautiful Christmas arches, symbols and lanterns but the warm hospitality of Tangubanons.”
“Tangub also has the best tasting crabs because of the unpolluted water of Panguil Bay,” she said, adding, “The culture and attitude of the people in Tangub is our best promotion.”
Ocampos, for his part, said: “Ang Misamis Occidental hinay-hinay nga mihimo ug ngalan sa natad sa turismo tungod sa eco-tourism projects nga usa sa nag-unang programa ni Gov. Loreto Ocampos.”
“Nailhan na karon bisan sa gawas sa nasod ang Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) ug Dolphin Island and Wildlife Sanctuary sa Sinacaban ug ang Hoyohoy Vegetable and Highland Park sa Tangub City,” it added.
Aside from these, Ozamiz City, being a pilgrimage and historical destination, boasts of its 250-year old fort and Shrine, popularly known as the Fuerte de la Concepcion del Triunfo de la Cruz, a tourist come-on.
Another one is the St. John the Baptist Church in Jimenez, one of the 25 oldest churches in the country built in the 18th century by the Recollect fathers.
More report, even in the wake of the economic slump, the Philippines could still shine because of tourism, TUI Travel PLC Chief Executive Officer Peter Long said.
Long, whose revelation was posted in PTB , said their firm expects 600 million tourists from and within Asia over the next five years — and mainly to other Asian destinations.
The country, added Long, remains resilient since it has a lot to offer to travelers, in terms of destinations.
The DOT has said this development will surely translate into economic growth for the country, which will somehow be an offsetting factor against the contagion effect of the ongoing worldwide economic slowdown.
The DOT added that it foresees big tourism receipts until July, proof to this is the increased tourism investments and the number of newly built of hotels and hospital rooms all over the countryside.