CEBU CITY – Close to one million tourists have visited Central Visayas in the first half of 2022, the top official of the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Central Visayas revealed Thursday, August 11.
DOT Undersecretary Shalimar Tamano said 962,418 tourists visited the region from January to June this year.
Tamano, concurrent director of DOT 7, said local tourists composed the bulk of tourist arrivals in Central Visayas at 889, 315.
She added that data showed that 73,103 foreign tourists have also visited the region in the first six months of the year.
Tourism in Central Visayas was badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic but the current figures showed an improvement in tourist arrivals in the region, said Tamano.
The DOT 7 is hoping that the number of foreign arrivals will reach up to 300,000 before the year ends.
“Central Visayas is ready and open for tourism and we’re excited in the coming days under the new administration and new Secretary (Christina Frasco) of the DOT,” Tamano said.
Tamano discussed the status of the tourism industry in Central Visayas when he and Frasco graced the Tourism Summit at SM Seaside Cebu Thursday.
The event was part of this year’s Cebu Business Month celebration.