TO MEET the growing inflow of tourists both local and foreign, the local government unit (LGU) of Camiguin is considering on boosting its “homestay” program to ensure that there is enough accommodation for people coming to the island-province.
Former provincial governor and now Mambajao Mayor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo said through homestay, visitors will have a place to stay aside from hotels and inns while vacationing in Camiguin.
During his term as governor, Romualdo has initiated the homestay scheme which he said has a two-pronged approach.
Under the program, residents who offer their homes to tourists will not only earn extra income but will also address the island’s increasing need for lodging facilities for tourists.
Romualdo said the homestay program is a very convenient means to address the arrival of more visitors to Camiguin, so that tourists can still come and enjoy the attractions the province has to offer such as its hot and cold springs, resorts, historical and religious sites, natural parks, among many others.
At present, the province only has a 2,000-bed capacity and it is projected that this won’t be enough to meet the growing demand, most especially during the peak season.
Surge in tourist arrival usually happen during the Holy Week where thousands flock to the province to enjoy their summer vacation or to join the “Panaad,” a yearly activity initiated by the devotees that involves them walking around the island’s 64-kilometer circumferential road and visiting other religious sites.
The weeklong Lanzones Festival, held every third week of October, is also one of the majority events expected to draw in more local and foreign tourists.
Early this year, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Centre for Biodiversity declared the province’s mounts Timpoong and Hibok-hibok as a heritage park, one of the few that were declared as such in the Philippines and an added tourist attraction.
Incumbent Governor Maria Luisa Romualdo said for the tourism industry to boost even further, residents must work hand in hand with the local government to achieve this.
The governor noted that the homestay program is being widely practiced in other tourist areas in the country and abroad and she sees no problem in Camiguin adopting the same arrangement.
The governor said to prepare and capacitate the residents, the provincial tourism office must train them so they could handle tourists more efficiently.
Per record from the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)-Northern Mindanao, Camiguin is the fifth most visited province in the country with about 613,133 tourists visiting the island every year.
Tourist arrival is expected to increase five percent annually in the next few years, Neda-Northern Mindanao said.
Romualdo said increasing the number of families offering homestay is a necessity since the Philippine Airlines management has expressed interest in including the island in its local route.
At present, Cebu Pacific is the only airline providing flights to Camiguin from Cebu.
Romualdo said local government is open to a few companies who are planning on putting up resorts in the province, but added preserving the island’s beauty and its environment must come first.
For instance, as part of its environmental compliance, the Provincial and Municipal Governments do not allow structures, especially resorts and hotels, to be built taller than a fully grown coconut tree.
Also, the island is preparing to host the Northern Mindanao regional athletic competition next month and Romualdo said this would mean more people will once again be coming to Camiguin.