Lenten brings consumer influx to tourism sector

As workers and students take a longer day off this lent from school activities and work, tourism based industries are in turn expecting high occupancy rate as more domestic and foreign tourists will be touring the country to spend their Holy Week break.

It was reported by DOT that 200, 000 to 250, 000 domestic tourists will be touring the country this Lenten season making it a period wherein domestic travel is highest in any single month for  domestic travel.

Domestic travelers have reached to almost ten million a year, according to DOT figures and last year they have spent 800 million dollars for domestic trips.

Even for foreigners, Holy Week is also a time to tour the world or go to destinations where they can rest and unwind. This is precisely because most of the countries where these foreigners would come from are cold or chilly in this time of the year so they would go someplace in the tropics to unwind, said the general manager of Maribago Bluewaters Rhyz Buac in a recent interview.

Bluewaters which is also one of the famous resort destinations for foreigners here in the province is also excepting high occupancy this lent.

“During the Holy Week when everyone is off from work and going someplace to reflect, all our staff are here in the resort to entertain our guests because it’s one of the period in the year wherein we are fully booked,” said Buac.

Even their Sumilon Bluewaters in Oslob, expects influx of foreign tourists this lent to do safari diving, and other marine activities.

Instead of going to places with religious significance like churches and pilgrimages, more tourists both local and foreign are going to famous getaways instead like beach resorts in island destinations. With the humid temperature in the country, more domestic travelers prefer to frolic in the sand and do eco-tourism activities than to contemplate as a way to rejuvenate from stress.

Boracay and Puerto Princesa in Palawan are among the top picks for destinations in the country. Here in Cebu, famous island get-aways such as Bantayan Island, Moalboal and Malapascua are on the top list.

Even OIC for operations and marketing Alan A. Duarte of Stakili Estaca Beach Garden Resort proved true that beaches and resorts this period of the year will be receiving higher occupancy rate from both local and foreign tourists.

He said that their island resort in Nalusuan is full this week even before the start of the observance of Holy week until the Easter Sunday.

Religious activities such as the way of the cross, flagellation, real crucifixions and the acts of penitence also draw crowds. Famous places gone to for these in Cebu are Carmen, Car-car, Dalaguete, Simala in Sibonga and other places in the Southern heritage trail. 

However, secretary Durano said that these religious and cultural practices are usually not the main tourist attractions as these are just mainly considered as domestic curiosities.