Half a million tourists visited Region 12 in Q1

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - More than 500,000 local and foreign tourists came to Region 12 from January to March this year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Tuesday. 

Nelly Dillera, DOT's director for Region 12, said she is optimistic of a sharp increase in the influx of tourists in the coming months owing to the improving security situation in the region, as a result of the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Dillera said 278,285 of the more than half a million tourists that came to Region 12 between January to March 2014 toured eco-tourism sites in Sarangani province.

Region 12 covers the cities of Cotabato, Tacurong, Kidapawan, Koronadal and Gen. Santos, and the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.

Sarangani is popular for its white sand beaches and agricultural sites showcasing the area’s vast agriculture and marine potentials.

Dillera said the improving peace and order in Region 12 and surrounding areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ushered in the influx of more tourists during the first quarter of 2014, compared to previous years.

She said some conflicts that erupted in Central Mindanao during the past six months were virtually isolated and mostly happened in remote areas that are far from eco-tourism sites.

Dillera said General Santos City registered 49,682 tourist arrivals during the period, followed by North Cotabato, with 45,582, South Cotabato, 42,051, and Sultan Kudarat, with 13,277.

Tourism officials in Tacurong had listed 32,246 arrivals, while Cotabato City had 21,631, Kidapawan City, 17,829, and Koronadal City, 16,762.

“And 3,486 of them are foreign nationals– Japanese, Australians, Americans, Chinese and citizens from surrounding Asian states,” Dillera said.

Dillera said they are expecting about 2 million tourists to come to Region 12 this year.