By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Chinese nationals continue to dominate foreign tourist arrivals in this northern gateway of Luzon.
Of the more than three million recorded day-visitors in Ilocos Norte in 2018, thousands of Chinese tourists registered the most in terms of international tourists’ arrivals, according to Xavier Ruiz, Ilocos Norte tourism operations officer.
Other foreign visitors include Americans, Europeans and Koreans among others who visited the province’s major tourism attractions.
In 2018, the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) reported 3,003,963 day-visitors, or an increase of 34% tourist arrivals compared to 2017.
“This is the sweet fruit of labor and the solidarity of all tourism stakeholders,” said Mr. Ruiz as he commended all tourism stakeholders and local government units (LGU) in the province for helping gather the number of tourists visiting their respective jurisdiction.
Latest record of the INTO shows the UNESCO-world heritage site of St. Augustine Church in Paoay, Ilocos topped the most-visited place with 509,449 visitors; followed by the Malacañang of the North with 387,118 visitors; Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos with 286,998 visitors; and the Paoay and Culilli Point Sand Dunes with 276,483 and 229,677 visitors, respectively.
In an effort to attract more tourists in the province, Mr. Ruiz bared plans to intensify campaign on sustainable tourism and one way to do so is to conduct orientation program on environmental protection among tourism ambassadors.
“We’ve done lectures before on first aid, safety, and understanding tourists, but I think it’s about time... to include basic lectures on how they can help in teaching our tourists to be more responsible,” Mr. Ruiz shared.
During the peak season of tourist arrivals during summer and Christmas seasons, INTO hires tourism ambassadors, first aid and utility personnel to assist local and foreign tourists visiting the province. This is also a means to provide alternative livelihood to local residents including students and senior citizens who want to earn for themselves.
