THE number of both domestic and who visited Bacolod City from January to November last year has increased by almost 48 percent compared to the same period in 2016.
Partial reports of the City Tourism Office (CTO) showed that a total of 761,850 tourists arrived in Bacolod during the first 11 months of 2017.
The figure is comprised of 692,513 domestic and 69,337 foreign tourists.
From January to November 2016, the CTO recorded 516,272 tourist arrivals. It is lower by 245,578 compared to the same period in 2015.
Reports further showed that the 2016 figures comprised 470,799 domestic and 44,582 foreign visitors.
Ma. Elma Gerasmo, city tourism officer, said that based on the initial data, the city has already surpassed its 20 percent target increase in tourist arrivals for 2017.
Gerasmo said with more tourism inflow in December during the long holidays, the city’s tourist arrivals surely increased further.
For the entire 2016, the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas reported 799,224 tourist arrivals in Bacolod City.
It formed part of the almost 1.65 million total tourist arrivals in Negros Occidental in the last two years.
“The good number of tourist arrivals during summer was augmented by the MassKara Festival celebration,” Gerasmo said, adding that the presence of President Rodrigo Duterte last year has contributed to the higher number of revelers during the festivity.
The tourism officer also attributed the “significant” leap in tourist arrivals to the city’s hosting of various national conventions and summits.
“Bacolod City has become a famed venue for big gatherings and a prominent destination in the country,” Gerasmo added.
In terms foreign tourist arrivals, the CTO listed Americans as top visiting guests last year, with 10,605.
They were followed by those coming from Korea - 8,277; Japan - 5,976; Australia - 4,393; China - 3,949; Russia - 3,671; United Kingdom - 2,174; India - 2,010; and Germany - 1,883.
“We will continue to work on improving our tourism development and promotion measures, including sustaining Bacolod’s image as tourist and business-friendly hub in the country,” she added.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Friday that he will revive his previous program “A tourist is a friend.”
“I will revive this program because we believe for many reasons like inter-personal relationship and international friendship that they can help the city’s economy,” he said.
“The more tourists we have, the better for the city’s economy,” he added.
The mayor said that this year, the City Government will conduct a series of lectures to inculcate in the hearts and minds of Bacoleños, especially the students, the importance of tourism.
“We would like our people to have that sense of pride, participation and belonging that we are helping each other on how we accommodate our tourists,” Leonardia said.
He said he is happy that Bacolod ranked second to Boracay Island in terms of foreign tourist arrivals in Western Visayas in 2017.
“That is good news and it is a big help. I am a believer of the projection that tourism is going to become a biggest industry in the world,” he added. “We have proven here that there is a potential and capacity on our side to bring in these tourists.”
“We are generating a very good publicity because of the positive developments that are happening in Bacolod,” the mayor added.
He pointed out that Bacolod attracts tourists because of its beautiful destinations, hotel accommodations, and delicious food.