Kalinga reports increase in tourists

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Kalinga Provincial Tourism Services Office reported a 12.67 percent average annual growth rate on tourist arrival in the province from 2011 to 2013.

This is based on the data gathered from the 27 registered accommodations province wide to include hotels, lodging, inns, and homestays, according to Provincial Tourism Officer Lorrain Nago-I.

In 2011, establishments reported a total of 23,949 domestic and 1,229 foreign tourist arrivals.

In 2012 the arrivals increased to 29,022 (domestic) and 1,588 (foreign), and in 2013 domestic tourist arrival was up at 30,099 while foreign tourists totaled to 3,028.

In 2013, foreign tourist arrivals from the Asean nations totaled to 130, 822 from East Asia, 38 from South Asia, 633 from North America, 165 from Oceana, and 41 from South America.

Eight hundred eighty-two came from Europe, 85 from Middle East, 10 from Africa, and 222 others came from unspecified residences overseas.

Ngao-I said among the top three municipalities visited are Tabuk City, Tinglayan and Lubuagan.

Tabuk City she said has the highest considering the various tourism activities being conducted here such as the Ullalim and Matagoan festival, water rafting activities, seminar and conferences, among others.

In Tinglayan, most visited is the Tattoo Village in Buscalan where the only Kalinga tattoo artist Whang-od resides, and the Sleeping Beauty mountain.

For Lubuagan, the municipality she said is also attracting visitors not only for the sites but because of the year round tourism activity of the people such as the Awichon Cultural Village heritage tour and community immersion, Mabilong Weaving, Dangoy beads making and the Tiwod Fertility Spring.

Recently, the Provincial Tourism Council has come up with the Kalinga Village Hopping package covering these three municipalities.

Nago-i said there is a need to create tourism activities in each municipality in the province aside from developing the sites.

Tourists she said are attracted to visit a place when they get to experience something like festivities, buy souvenirs, eat unique foods, have a tattoo, get to experience nature like rafting, hiking and spelunking, extreme sports among others. (Geraldine Dumallig)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph