By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The tourism sector in Negros Occidental generated income of more than P6 billion last year, data from the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) showed.

Cheryl Decena, Provincial Tourism Officer, said the income from tourism activities in the province mostly came from accommodation, transportation, restaurants, and suppliers.

The province has recorded 115,248 overnight tourists in the first four months of this year, compared to the PTO’s 600,000 target.

“The more they spend for overnight accommodations, the more they get to support local business enterprises,” Decena said.

However, she assured Governor Eugenio Lacson the information submitted to the PTO is not yet complete and remained hopeful that this year’s target will be met or exceeded.

The Department of Tourism has set a target of 350,000 tourist arrivals to the province, but it was surpassed by 61 percent, reaching 510,000.

International tourist arrivals make up only eight to 10 percent of the total number, with Americans leading the list.

Based on PTO’s records, the most visited tourism spots in the province are often those involving coastal tourism.

Also on the list of most visited include farm and cultural heritage tourism./DGB, WDJ