By Annabel J. Petinglay
ILOILO CITY, Jan. 7 (PNA) -– The province of Iloilo although still in the process of consolidating reports from the different towns has now registered around 112,000 tourist arrivals for 2014.
Gilbert Marin, Iloilo Provincial Tourism Officer, said that the figure they have now is almost reaching their targeted 122,000 to 125,000 number of tourists to visit the different tourism destinations in the 42 towns and one component city of the province.
“We are still expecting additional reports from the towns,” Marin said.
He said that although there were numerous island resorts that were damaged by the super typhoon Yolanda in 2013 particularly in the northern towns of the province where the bulk of tourists both foreign and local usually visit, but then the resorts were able to rehabilitate easily because of their smaller room accommodations.
”There are also tourists who opt to occupy tents for their overnight stay,” Marin said. He said that tent lease is cheaper which is why it is being preferred now by tourists.
Marin said that in 2013 their registered tourist arrivals was 117,800 only.
He added that for 2015 the Iloilo Provincial Tourism Office is trying to come up with more events in order to encourage more tourists to visit the tourist spots in the municipalities.(PNA)