ILOILO – Tourist arrivals in this province significantly plummeted in 2020 due to community quarantine measures imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Ang tourist arrivals naton sang 2020 were around 67,599,” Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) chief Gilbert Marin told Panay News.
This was an 82.56 percent drop from the 387,646 tourist arrivals recorded in 2019.
The top five towns with the most number of tourist arrivals were Estancia (14,393), Concepcion (6,279), San Joaquin (5,701), New Lucena (5,290), and Leganes (5,170).
These towns, according to Marin, “got great tourist destinations such as beaches and inland resorts.”
“For example, the islands of Agho and Bulubadiangan in Concepcion, Calabazas Island in Ajuy, and the Tangke saltwater lagoon in Isla de Gigantes Sur in Carles town,” Marin said.
PTO records also showed that in 2020, the months with the highest tourist arrivals were January (13,384), November (10,195), February (9,551), December (9,311), and October (8,097).
Marin noted that from March until October last year – the height of community quarantine here – few tourists came to explore destinations.
“Nagsugod sang March 15 nga wala gid arrivals until October. But we’re hoping this year by the third quarter maga-amat amat na balik, especially ang resort operations,” he added.
In terms of same-day visitors, there was also a drop in numbers.
In 2020, there were 461,816 visitors, a 78.5 percent decrease from 2019’s record of 2,148,755.
The Top 5 local government units with the highest same-day visitors were Dumangas (72,082), Carles (37,286), Concepcion (31,777), Pototan (29,151), and Passi City (26,646).
The province’s tourism sector also incurred an estimated P15 billion in losses due to the closure of over 240 tourism establishments such as inland and beach resorts last year.
“Ang pag-calculate base sa number of arrivals nga nagsulod because of the pandemic. Natabo sia abi sang peak season gid sang tourist arrivals naton,” said Marin.
The PTO is also encouraging local tourists to visit farm destinations in the province.
“We are really campaigning nga magkadto sa mga farm destinations because they are one of the safest destinations at the moment,” Marin said.
“Lapad sia, open and tapos people there really enjoy because of the fact nga damo sila puede ma-explore,” said Marin.
Before a tourist destination could operate, Marin said, he was conducting a personal inspection to make sure that health and safety protocols were in place.
The PTO is planning to distribute brochures of different farm and inland resorts to LGUs.
The tourism office targets 400,000 tourist arrivals this 2021./PN
