Tourist arrivals in the Happy Island of Catanduanes grew by a robust seven percent last year, with 127,619 domestic and foreign visitors staying overnight or longer.
In its report on initiatives undertaken in 2023, the Provincial Tourism Office said that the arrivals, which is nearly 8,000 more than the 119,710 visitors in 2022, generated a total of P159 million in tourism receipts.
As in past years, domestic tourists provided the bulk of arrivals with 126,188 or nearly 99 percent, but the more significant growth was recorded in foreign arrivals which tallied a dramatic, 11-fold increase from just 123 in 2022 to 1,431 last year.
Domestic tourists accounted for 94 percent of the revenue, or P151 million, while foreign tourists contributed the balance of P7.9 million, Supervising Tourism Promotion Officer Carmel Bonifacio-Garcia said in her year-end report.
Same-day visitors, or those who do not spend the night in the place visited, grew by 10 percent from the previous 305,190 to a total of 334,032 last year.
They contributed a total of P414 million in revenue for local tourism establishments and the provincial economy, with 96 percent coming from domestic visitors.
All told, the 2023 visitors to Catanduanes, whether tourists or same-day visitors, generated a total of 563,214 jobs
Among the foreign visitors were the 72 Australians on board the first cruise call on the island province, brought by the Coral Adventurer Expedition in October.
Domestic arrivals were buoyed by four sports tourism events – Majestic Surfing Cup 2023, Catanduanes Bug Run, 1st Car Camping and Catanduanes Motourista Challenge – along with those who came to see and experience the Abaca Festival last May 22-27, 2023 and the celebration of the 78th Catanduanes Foundation Anniversary on Oct. 25-26, 2023.
Also enticing visitors were local fiestas and festivals such as the Dinahit Festival in Pandan, Buroniyogan sa Calo Fest Street Dance in San Andres, Pantomina sa Kalsada Showdown in Virac and Hag-ot Festival in San Miguel.
In its sustained marketing and promotions activity, the tourism office and local stakeholders participated in five travel and tourism expos: the 30th PTTA Travel and Tour Expo at SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in February; Central Philippines Tourism Expo at the Iloilo Convention Center in June; 34th Philippine Travel Mart at SMX in September; Negoshow 2023 at SM City Naga also in September; and North Luzon Travel Expo at CAP Convention Center at Camp John Hay last November.
Likewise, in ensuring that local tourism establishments comply with industry standards and regularions, the tourism office validated and inspected 12 of them: Fleur de Lilies Glamping Farm, Manoy Badong and Many Idi’s Sunflower Farm, Little Acre Integrated Farm, Neliza Farm and Training Center, Catanduanes State University, Liz and Bel Travellers Inn, Wuppertaler Travellers Inn, Pandan Mangrovw Forest, Sitio Kapagatpatanan Mangrove Eco Park, San Miguel River Parl, Virac Hometel, and E-Crown Hotel and Resort.
Eleven establishments were inspected for service quality watch: ARDCI Hotel, Emmalyn’s Paradise Resort, Amenia Beach Resort, Villa Andrea Inn, Melfel Inn, CJ’s Travellers Inn, Paraiso ni Honesto, Carangyan Beach Resort. Catanduanes Halfway Hotel and Resort, Angeles Homestay, and Sofeca Travellers Inn.
Twenty-seven tourism enterprises renewed their accreditation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) while three new ones secured the department’s approval. On the other hand, 32 community tour guides also renewed their DOT accreditation.
Garcia disclosed in the report that three new tourism sites emerged last year: Sitio Kapagatpatanan Mangrove Eco Park, Bato Viewpoint and Batalay Mangrove Eco Park Floating Cottage.
Three new tourism products were developed – Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) and All-Terrain Vehicle (ARV) – while four establishments (San Miguel River Park, Virac Hometel, E-Crown Hotel and Resort, and ARDCI Hotel).
In building up the capabilities of tourism workers, the tourism office conducted six training and seminars, benefiting a total of 211 workers in the industry.
These are the Integrated Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (ITOPCOP) Training for 43 participants last May; Orientation on Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) and Workshop on PRECUP Forms for 56 participants in June; Filipino Brand of Service Excellence for 34 participants last July; Water Safety and Rescue (WASAR) Training of Lifeguards in Tourism Oriented Enterprises for 31 participants in August; Tourism Awareness and Tourist Reception Seminar with Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Training for 26 participants last September; and the Tourism Statistics Orientation for 21 participants last July.
To reward the collective efforts of the Provincial Tourism Office and its local stakeholders, Catanduanes won two awards in the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and Department of Tourism (DOT) Pearl Awards 2023.
The Catanduanes Abaca Festival was 1st Runner-Up in the Best Cultural Festival Award – Provincial Level, while the Happy Island Tourism Brochure won 2nd Runner-Up in the Best Brochure for Tourism Promotions Award – Provincial Level.
Last December, the DOT Bicol regional office also awarded a plaque of commendation to the Province of Catanduanes as the most compliant and with complete submission of statistical data for CY 2023 at the provincial level/