Northern Mindanao targets 3.2 M tourists this year

MANILA, Philippines - Northern Mindanao is banking on festivals and conventions in the remaining months of 2015 to reach its target of 3.2 million tourist arrivals by year-end, a ranking tourism official said.

Department of Tourism Region 10 director Catalino Chan III said the region is close to reaching its 12 percent growth projection this year after posting two million arrivals from January to July. In 2014, Northern Mindanao recorded 2.9 million arrivals, 32 percent of which are foreign tourists.

Despite the recent Samal kidnapping case in the neighboring Davao region, Chan said he is upbeat the region will catch up with the remaining 1.2 million target as around five festivals and two major conventions are still lined up until December.

“We increase more on our festivals because it’s the best way for people to be entertained in our place,” he said.

Chan added Northern Mindanao greatly depends on the agricultural ecotourism in Bukidnon and adventure sites in Cagayan de Oro, which is now one of the top 10 destinations in the country.

Meanwhile, the region also considers proposing new flights for the Laguindingan Airport to further sustain tourist arrivals, particularly from the Korean market.

He said infrastructure in the region can support tourist inflow as one big hotel is set for opening and another eyes construction next year.

Furthermore, DOT-accredited establishments in the region increased 32 percent, from 2,900 rooms in 2014 to this year’s approximately 4,000 rooms, in its efforts to make Northern Mindanao one of the top MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) destinations in the coming years.