BACOLOD City has catered to 206,594 local and foreign tourists during the first quarter of the year, generating about P4.1 billion in tourism receipts.
Data obtained by SunStar Bacolod from the City Tourism Office (CTO) Sunday, May 27, showed that the first three-month tourist arrivals comprised of 21,103 foreign and 185,491 domestic tourists.
These tourists have spent a total of P4,105,988,447.70 during their stay in the city, it added.
For foreign tourists alone, CTO further reported that Koreans topped the first quarter arrivals.
They are followed by those from United States of America, Japan, Russia, Australia, China, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, and Norway.
Ma. Elma Gerasmo, city tourism officer, earlier said that the "rerouting" of flights will surely impact positively the tourism industry of Negros Occidental, especially its capital Bacolod City.
Major airline companies have redeployed some of their flights between Aklan, and other destinations due to the closure of Boracay Island on April 26.
Additional flights would create more tourism traffic going to Bacolod City, which is a gateway to other destinations in the province, she added.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas had set a target increase in tourist arrivals of at least 200,000 for Bacolod City this year.
This is the city's share to offset the 1.2 million tourists which the region may lose due to the six-month closure of Boracay, the top tourist destination of Western Visayas.
Gerasmo also said that "the city is prepared to cater to this additional number of guests."
Currently, there are about 70 tourism accommodation establishments in the city.
These facilities including hotels, resorts, pensions, inns, and dormitories can cater to 5,950 guests per day.