First Half of 2009 Tourist Destinations

Catanduanes made it to the top 15 tourist destinations in the Philippines with a whooping 115.0% growth rate in the first half of 2009 second only to Camarines Sur with 194.0%. Camarines Norte came in third with 63.9% and Legaspi with 10.9%, while Sorsogon and Masbate with negative growth of -14.0% and -7.5% respectively.

Destinations	Foreign	Domestic	Total	Change
Camarines Sur	147,504	754,698	202,202	194.0%
Cebu	321,116	509,433	321,116	2.3%
Boracay	112,315	271,498	383,813	6.0%
Baguio*	20,677	350,528	371,205	-14.5%
Davao	29,691	300,556	330,247	2.7%
Puerto Galera**			215,755	20.2%
Bohol	45,995	114,619	160,614	15.6%
Negros Occidental*	32,780	113,724	146,504	-55.2%
Negros Oriental	22,729	95,069	117,798	11.1%
Ilocos Norte	8,088	91,659	99,747	6.5%
Masbate*	10,257	71,630	81,887	-7.5%
Camarines Norte	1,711	79,466	81,177	63.9%
Puerto Princesa	11,380	69,376	80,756	63.0%
Legaspi	7,892	59,732	67,624	10.9%
Catanduanes	9,953	55,188	65,141	115.0%
Sorsogon*	26,251	27,952	54,203	-14.0%
TOTAL	808,389	2,965,128	3,989,272	16.5%

The developing El Niño in the equatorial Pacific would be a welcome thought for our tourism industry because of low rainfall but not for the agricultural and fishery sector.
Note: *Partial, **No data
Source: DOT Regional Offices

RELATED LINKS:

• PAGASA Urges Concerned Gov't Agencies to Prepare vs El Niño - El Niño is the abnormal warming in the equatorial Pacific and is usually characterized by below normal rainfall.
• Making Catanduanes A Tourism Destination - Suggestions for eco-tourism development
• Tourism the Catandungan Way - Suggestions for eco-tourism promotion
• International TV Channel to Produce Documentary on Catanduanes - Catanduanes to be featured on Living Asia Channel
• DOT-5 Sets Aside P2-M for Tourist Facilities for Catanduanes - Budget for Catanduanes tourist facilities