THE city government of Samal is going after hotels and resorts operating on the island that have yet to complete their business permit registration.

During the Habi at Kape press conference at Abreeza Ayala Malls held Wednesday, April 25, tourism and investments officer of Island Garden of Samal (Igacos) Jennifer Cariaga said out of the 75 resorts in Samal, only 65 have permits from the City Business Bureau.

“Others have registered but they have not paid yet. For those who have not paid, they were already given first notice warning by our city business bureau. There will be a total of three notices (before closure). We need to have it go through a process. If they do really do not pay, that’s the time their establishment would be closed,” said Cariaga.

She said recipients of the first notice warning letter will be given three days to comply before a second notice is issued. Another three days will be given to the business establishment before the third notice.

An establishment will be shut down if it fails to comply after the issuance of the third notice.

In 2017, Cariaga said a total of 1.31 million tourists visited the island, or 24.62 percent more than the 1.06-million arrivals in 2016. Her office recorded 11,371 foreign tourists and 358,217 domestic tourists who stayed overnight.