SIARGAO ISLAND – Cebu, being a major hub for inter-island air travel, is poised to become a key market for the tourism resurgence of its fellow prime tourist destination.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga Director Ivonnie Dumadag said that they are now looking at meeting with Cebu travel operators to market the prime surfing destination to Cebuanos and transit passengers at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
DOT Caraga’s participation at the recently concluded International Travel Fair in Cebu was already a start of this continuing effort to link Cebu and Siargao in terms of tourism potentials.
“That was the first time we joined. We will meet up with DOT 7 (Central Visayas) soon so we can discuss ways forward,” Dumadag said. “We will take advantage of the direct flights (between Cebu and Siargao).”
Currently, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific operate direct Cebu-Siargao flights twice and thrice daily, respectively.
Cebu is a favored transit airport for those traveling to other island destinations in Visayas and Mindanao like Siargao.
Tourism in Siargao
Regular flights from Cebu, Manila, and Davao have since resumed after the challenging years of the coronavirus pandemic and typhoon Odette in 2021.
Foreign tourists are back and are spending. Accommodation facilities have seen continued increasing arrivals since travel restrictions were eased.
After suffering from the impact of the pandemic and the destructive typhoon, Siargao is “rising back strong,” Dumadag said, thanking the collective support of local stakeholders. With tourist arrivals steadily increasing, Dumadag is optimistic about Siargao’s ability to pick its position in the local and global tourism map.
Being one of the country’s prime tourist destinations, tourism resurgence is driving the island’s economy forward. National and local officials are ramping up efforts to position the island as one of the most-visited tropical destinations in the country.
After a three-year hiatus, the government has brought back the 13th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament, attracting professional anglers from different countries such as Germany, Canada, Japan and the UK.
Siargao is making efforts to promote fishing as a new attraction aside from the already popular surfing activities.
“One would like to think that Siargao is just a surfing destination, but unbeknownst to many, it is also a playground for sports fishing. Anglers from all walks of life from all over the country flock to Siargao to test their skills against some of the best game fishers in the world,” DOT Assistant Secretary Christopher Morales said during the opening of the four-day tournament last Friday, April 21.
More than just a competition, officials see the event as a time for the community to lure visitors and travelers to experience the beauty and tranquility of island life, particularly the town of Pilar, through its distinct culture, food and crafts.
“Truly, tourism empowers not only the hotels, the resorts, the tour guides, but also the community as they are able to generate a sustainable livelihood in doing business and yet caring for the environment and taking care of our visitors,” the tourism official said.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose “Bingo” Matugas II, in an interview with reporters, said that there are now 14 flights daily to and from Siargao, reaching about 90 percent of its pre-pandemic level of 15 daily flights.
He said Europeans are the island’s biggest tourist market. Australians and Indonesians are also among their top visitors.
A hub for nomads
Siargao has also become a favorite hub for nomads and long-staying travelers seeking a tropical ambiance while working remotely. Many foreigners have fallen in love with Siargao as a surfing destination and because of its overall laid-back ambiance, which makes a perfect home for digital nomads.
The recovery of the accommodation facilities is also on track, now hitting about 85 percent of their overall post-disaster recovery efforts, Matugas said.
One of the directions also of the tourism sector here is to spread tourism activities -- like the fishing tournament in Pilar -- out of the General Luna area, home to most of the resorts and tourists here.
By doing this, stakeholders are hoping to distribute the economic benefits of tourism to the rest of the towns in the island. DOT’s Morales said the Siargao fishing event has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the region.