CamSur Maintains Robust Tourism Growth

Domestic visitors to Camarines Sur rose by a hefty 163 percent and foreign arrival grew by 29 percent for overall increment of 124.6 percent to sustain its stature among the most visited destinations in the Philippines as of the end of the third quarter of 2009.

According to the Department of Tourism Camarines Sur's growing tourism allure was significantly boosted by tourism promotion initiatives of Governor LRay Villafuerte focused on extreme sports competitions like the World Wakeboarding Championships, the International Dragon Boat Competition and the Ironman 70.3 Philippines.

Development of world-class natural attractions particularly around Caramoan Peninsula which have attracted the filming on location of several Survivor reality show serials also contributed a hefty share to the some 1.23 million tourists and overall tourism increment despite the third quarter traditionally being a lean tourism period.

Together with CamSur among the country's most frequented sites are traditional favourites Cebu, Bohol and Boracay but travel trends indicate CamSur showing greater potential for attracting both foreign and domestic travellers.

Volume of domestic tourists in the country registered an increase by 21 percent while foreign arrivals grew by 2.7 percent despite marked slowdown in tourism movement in the Southeast Asian Pacific region, although the Philippines is expected to sustain tourism growth in comparison with its neighbours.  Gov. Villafuerte has bigger and more grandiose activities lined up for CamSur for 2010.  (GBClaveria)