After recent data revealed partial tourist arrivals between January and June 2017 in the Western Visayas reached two million, Department of Tourism-Region VI (DOT-6) Director, Atty. Helen J. Catalbas, declared, “Western Visayas will hit its 5.5 million tourist arrivals target for 2017.”
“DOT-6 takes into consideration these numbers because this is where we align our tourism products and services,” she explained. “Western Visayas already knows its strength; it’s time to enhance other areas to accommodate more tourists.”
She pointed out events hosted by the region that contributed to the numbers, including visits from travel agents and media from Taiwan, university officials from Korea, and high-end Chinese agents from Shanghai.
Catalbas also noted photo and videos shoots in the region for Eastgate Publishing’s “The Bucket List Philippines;” the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO); DOT; PTV’s “ITravel Pinas;” and Taiwan’s SET TV, Formosa TV, and Apple News Daily.
Aklan, home of resort destination Boracay, saw the most visitors this year so far with 1.1 million./WDJ