ILOILO City – The province of Negros Occidental is seen to be the next top tourism destination in Western Visayas, replacing Aklan where the world-famous Boracay Island is located, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6.
“With Boracay, Negros (Occidental) is the second most visited area in Western Visayas so, without Boracay, it is going to take the first place,” said DOT regional director Helen Catalbas.
In 2017, a total of 5,852, 937 tourists visited the region, surpassing the 5,517,761 tourist target, records from the DOT showed.
Negros Occidental, including its capital Bacolod City, posted 1,723,886 foreign and domestic tourist arrivals that year.
Aklan had the most number of tourist arrivals with 2,220,821 – 2,001,974 visited Boracay, the DOT added.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City recorded 1,076,976 tourist arrivals in the same year while Iloilo province, 310,878, Capiz, 229,195, Antique, 162, 925, and Guimaras, 128,256.
Catalbas said among the popular tourist destinations Negros Occidental are Mount Kanlaon, ancestral houses, sulfur springs of Mambukal Resort, white sand beaches and dive sites in Sipalay, snorkeling at Carbin Reef Marine Reserve in Sagay, Danjugan Island Marine Reserve, 18-hole Golf courses, and farms.
Catalbas also said the number of tourists became “secondary to us with the lessons brought about by this Boracay closure and degradation, which resulted to its closure.”
“I think the number should become secondary with more focus on the sustainability of destinations,” she added. (With a report from Cindy Rojas of PNA/PN)
