Negros Oriental has overtaken Bohol in terms of tourist arrivals.
Department of Tourism 7 regional director Rowena Montecillo told tourism stakeholders in Negros Oriental last week that based on records, Negros Oriental placed second to Cebu province in tourist arrivals in Central Visayas.
The top 10 foreign visitors to the province were Americans, Germans, French, Canadians, Britons, Australians, Chinese, Koreans, and Swiss nationals, in that order.
Montecillo also said international tourist arrivals reached 463,359 in 2013, representing a 50 percent increase compared to 2012.
With the growing number of tourist arrivals or markets, the tourism action plan will also have to align with the National Tourism Development Plan and identify the priority tourism development areas in the country, Montecillo said.
With this development, tourism stakeholders in Negros Oriental adopted The Negros Oriental Tourism Roadmap in support for the development of tourism.
With the blueprint, Gov. Roel Degamo said his administration is bent on using the tourism industry as the main component for creating livelihood and employment opportunities for Negrenses.
Montecillo added that key development strategy plans include product development, marketing and promotion, sun and beach, cruise and nautical tours, nature adventures, educational, sports and medical tourism, events and conventions, and cultural heritage tours. (PIA)
