Tourist arrivals in Negros Occidental reached 1,235,219 last year, which is about 9.64 percent higher than that of 2013, with only 1,126,583 visiting the province, Provincial Tourism Officer Christine Mansinares told the DAILY STAR yesterday.

Of the 1,235, 219 visitors last year, 1,131,495 were domestic, or local tourists, 1,134 Overseas Filipino workers and balikbayans, while the rest were foreigners, Mansinares said.

She said tourists arrivals last year surpassed the target of both the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City tourism offices that is 1.1 million visitors by the end of 2014.

Records from the Bacolod City and Negros Occidental tourism offices show that Koreans are the top foreign visitors of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City followed by Americans, Germans, Japanese, Swiss, Australians, Canadians, Chinese, French and Russians.

The continued increase in tourist arrivals in Negros Occidental could be attributed to the active promotion of the Provincial Tourism Office in cooperation with the Department of Tourism and the constant holding of conventions, especially in Bacolod City, Mansinares said.

As for the coming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Bacolod, the tourism offices of the city and of Negros Occidental are optimistic that it will help boost tourist arrivals as well, she said.

However, Mansinares stressed that they are also banking on other special events to be held in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City this year to further increase tourist arrivals.

Meanwhile, 25 tour guides will participate in a 21-day seminar starting today at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol.

Mansinares said the seminar aims to train more guides to help them extend better services to the growing number of tourist arrivals in the province.*APN

back to top