DOT VI positive to achieve 2017 target tourist arrivals

“Western Visayas will hit its 5.5-million tourist arrivals target for 2017”, the Department of Tourism Region VI Director Atty. Helen J. Catalbas said positively. This after the partial tourist arrivals from January to June 2017 strikes a 2-million record. The target is more than 300,000 over the 2016 tourist arrivals of 5.193-million.

Director Catalbas cited DOT VI assisted familiarization tours, photo and video shoots and product update as well as region’s hosted international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) events in the past six months have contributed to this accomplishment.

“DOT Region VI has assisted and hosted various events and activities to ensure that Western Visayas is promoted to the right market. Among those assisted include travel agents and media from Taiwan, University Officials from Korea and High-end Chinese Agents from Shanghai, China - Western Visayas’ top foreign tourist markets”, Director Catalbas explained. DOT Region VI also hosted the photo/video shoots of Eastgate Publishing’s The Bucket List Philippines, DOT, PCOO and PTV4’s ITravel Pinas, and SET TV, Formosa TV and Apple News Daily from Taiwan.

Director Catalbas said the region is still a favorite destination in the Philippines for both local and foreign tourists, with Aklan as the most visited province. It records 1.1-million tourist arrivals (January-June 2017) followed by Iloilo City with 410,061 tourist arrivals (January-May 2017) and Bacolod City with 269,232 tourist arrivals (January-April 2017). She also commended Antique for stepping up its game in promoting tourism of the province with 43,277 tourist arrivals (January to March 2017), barely 32 percent away from its 63,613 January to December tourist arrivals in 2016. She stressed these areas are expected to surpass their target by the end of 2017.

“DOT Region VI takes into consideration these numbers because this is where we align our tourism products and services. Western Visayas already knows its strength; it’s time to enhance other areas to accommodate more tourists, creating Western Visayas one destination with diverse culture”, Director Catalbas concluded.