ISABELA CITY, Basilan (PIA) – The Department of Tourism (DOT)-9 is gearing up to boost the Zamboanga Peninsula region’s sustainable and eco-tourism industry, aiming to attract more local and foreign visitors.
According to DOT-9 Director Dara May L. Cataluña, the region has already seen a 3% increase in tourist arrivals as of May, with a total of 296,768 foreign and domestic tourists visiting the region compared to the same period last year.
“We aim to increase tourist arrivals by 20% annually. We hope to improve our numbers for the coming months, and we hope that our media partners will help us showcase the beauty of Zamboanga Peninsula,” said RD Cataluña during the PIA Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas.
The region has made significant strides in promoting its tourism industry, with over a million tourist visits recorded in 2023. DOT-9 attributed this success to the support of local government units and local chief executives in ensuring the quality of tourist attractions and destinations.
Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Giselle A. Machutes emphasized the importance of community involvement in tourism development.
“We’ve conducted tourism training programs for 76 barangay tanods in Zamboanga City, which aims to empower them to showcase their community’s beauty and advocate for tourism,” she said.
Machutes added that the DOT-9 is also promoting inclusive tourism, which aims to encourage diversity and sustainability in the industry.
“We want to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable tourism and promote our region’s unique cultural heritage,” She said. (EDT/NDR/SIA/PIA BASILAN)
