Rizalie Anding Calibo
SIQUIJOR, May 20 (PIA) - - With Siquijor island becoming a haven
for tourists, foreign and domestic arrivals continue to soar with France, USA,
Germany, United Kingdom and China nationals topped the list of staying foreign
tourists.
Siquijor Provincial Planning and Development Officer Gladys
Estrellada reported this during the Green Economic Development
Sensitization and Business Matching for Tourism Enterprises in the
island.
Estrellada presented the island’s tourism trend showing a good
leap in the last six years. Staying and walk-in tourists soared in 2014
with 209,819 from 71,178 in 2008; 104,474 in 2009; 112,658 in 2010; 123,864 in
2011; 126,172 in 2012 and 150,889 in 2013.
Domestic and foreign staying tourists were registered at 23,345
and 17,140, respectively or a total of 40,485 in 2014 from 33,431 in 2013.
Tourism data also shows 88% of the tourists come to the island for
pleasure and vacation; 8% come to visit friends and relatives while
4% come for business professional work and other activities.
Thirty five percent of those tourists indulged in marine
activities such as diving, snorkelling and paddle boating; 31% mainly
come for relaxation and resting; 22% went to mountains and nature
activities like biking, trekking, spelunking and swimming; while 11% of
the tourists wanted to experience Siquijor culture with visits to the old
churches and convent, folk healing and festivals.
Siquijor island has now a total of 108 accommodations
establishments with 678 rooms including resorts, inns, hotels and homestay.
(mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)