Tourist arrival in Albay up by 44%

by Sally A. Atento

Source: www.pia.gov.ph

LEGAZPI CITY, January 8 (PIA) -- Tourism Bicol regional director Susan Ravanilla has affirmed the impressive growth rate of tourist arrivals in Albay from January to June 2011 which so far is the highest in the past years.

Legazpi Airport

Tourist arrivals in Albay has considerably increased to 234,081 tourists in 2011 compared to 162,506 in the same period in 2010, a 44 percent growth rate compared to the previous year.

Tied up with the 44 percent boost in the number of tourist arrivals is the 51 percent growth in foreign revenue for the first and second quarter of 2011, from P122 million revenues for 2010 to P180 million generated.

This growth also generated 836,623 jobs for the 1st quarter of 2011.

According to Ravanilla, tourist arrivals peak during the first two quarters of the year.

"The people are the direct beneficiaries of this tourism boost,” the director furthered.

The tourists' countries of origin included the United States and the United Kingdom which also comprised the biggest tourist arrival rate in Sorsogon.

Ravanilla also said that Donsol contributed a lot to the tourism growth rate in Albay since their foreign visitors usually stayed in this city for accommodation, bar hopping, shopping and other stuff that they can try and enjoy.

Mayon Volcano

Also boosting the number of tourist arrivals in Albay is Albay’s month long Magayon Festival in April, including the nightly beer plaza and presentations at Albay Park and other festivities and events that appealed to both domestic and foreign tourists.

From the median term development plan, the tourist arrival target for 2012 is 2 million which was already achieved in 2010 and is expected to be surpassed in 2011. The challenge then for 2012 is to go beyond the said target, the DOT Bicol director said. (MAL/SAA, PIA V/Albay)

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