City tourist arrivals up

Tourist arrivals in this Southern metropolis has significantly increased in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year.

In a report submitted to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, city tourism officer Heloise Javellana said that based on the monitoring report submitted by the city's tourism information assistance center (TIAC), the recorded arrivals at the Mandurriao airport alone showed a total of 615 tourists in 2005, compared to the 527 tourist arrivals in 2004.

On the other hand, accommodation establishments recorded a total of 191,328 tourist arrivals in January to June, compared to the 142,627 tourist arrivals of 2004. Accommodation establishments include all registered hotels and pension houses.

Of this total, 352 visitors came from all over Asia; 3,848 from East Asia; 104 from South Asia; 3,625 from North America; 438 from Oceania; 1,902 from Europe; and 68 from Middle East.

The prompt and proper submission of data by all registered hotels, pension houses and other accommodation establishments here has enabled city tourism authorities to determine immediately the number of tourists that visited Iloilo City.

Javellana thanked the various establishments for submitting the necessary data on time which helped the city update its tourist records.

Having these updated figures will assist the city in determining the factors why tourist arrivals either increase or decrease in the metropolis, she pointed out.

In the last six months of the year, the CTO has implemented crowd drawing projects and programs that include Dinagyang, Chinese New Year, Arts Month, Paraw Regatta, Iloilo City Freedom Day, Fiesta in the City, Flores de Mayo and Best in the Region among others.

The CTO has also launched “Experience Iloilo-Guimaras 2006.” (Adora B. Bandorio/PIO)