NORTHERN Mindanao's tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2019 declined by 34 percent to 484,141 compared to the 732,794 reported in the same quarter of 2018, according to the regional office of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Thursday, June 27.

Based on the data collated by the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Northern Mindanao, domestic tourists reached 477,455, comprising 98 percent of the total arrivals.

There were only 6,686 foreign tourists.

The figures did not include yet the arrivals in Misamis Oriental, Malaybalay City and Gingoog City.

Majority of the foreign visitors were from North America (1,995), East Asia (1,967), and Europe (1,231).

Other foreign visitors came from South Asia, Middle East, South America, Australia/Asia Pacific, and Africa.

There were no returning overseas Filipinos during the period under review.

Camiguin remained the top destination in Northern Mindanao as it cornered 31 percent (150,004) of the total arrivals, followed by Misamis Occidental with 23 percent (111,410) share, and Misamis Oriental with 22 percent (106,697) share.

Lanao del Norte received 76,725 visitors, or 16 percent of the total tourist arrivals, while Bukidnon, which has the smallest share of eight percent, received 39,305 tourists.