Camiguin posts 17.15% increase in tourist arrivals for the first half of the year

Provincial Tourism Officer Candice Naomi L. Boromeo

A TOTAL of 183,162 local and foreign tourists were recorded to have visited the island, from January to June, this year.

“This figure, was actually 26,816 tourists or 17.15 percent higher compared to 156,346 tourists during the same period, last year,” Candice Naomi L. Boromeo, Provincial Tourism Officer, said.

Records at the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO), also, show that the most number of tourists visited the island during the 2nd quarter with 131,181, compared to the 1st quarter with only 49,981.

Of this figure, domestic tourists registered at 145,460, followed by “Panaad” or traditional walk of penitence during the Holy Week, 33,215, foreign tourists, 4,264, “balikbayans” or Filipinos living abroad but are in the country for a vacation, 257.

The PTO data also show that the most number of tourists visited Camiguin during the month of April with 60,222, followed by May, 42,515, and June, 30,444.

During the 1st quarter, the month of March recorded the most number of tourists with 23,781, followed by January, 15,344 and lowest in February with 10,856.

Meanwhile, Borromeo said Camiguin posted an increase of 15,404 visitors or 5.07 percent, last year, from the previous full year’s bulk of 319,168 in 2010.

It also recorded, in 2009, some 303,764 tourist arrivals, posting some 21,595 or 7.65 percent increase from the 2008 figure.

She, however, noted that the figure covers only guests and visitors staying in cottages and hotels.

The month of April continually posts the highest influx of visitors, as tourist and Christian devotees, alike, flock the island to observe or experience the 64-km ‘Panaad,’ she said.

This was followed by October, as another tourist come on in the island, the ‘Lanzones Festival’ is celebrated every third week of the month.

During this occasion, the island comes alive in a weeklong festivity which showcases the province agri-cottage exhibits and food trade expo, indigenous sports and highlighted with the tableau of local culture portrayed though dances.

Borromeo said the PTO, likewise, records bigger number of tourist arrivals during vacation times, specifically, in the months of May and December with the majority of the arrivals composed mostly of domestic tourists.

“Foreign and ‘balikbayan’ tourist still post increases from January to June, this year, compared to last year,” she added. (Jorie C. Valcorza, PIA 10)