Tourist arrivals in Western Visayas last year plunged due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, translating to billions of pesos in revenue losses.
In an interview over radio station Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo, Department of Tourism (DOT-6) Director Atty. Helen J. Catalbas disclosed that the region posted a decrease of about 6 million tourists in 2020.
Citing the figure, Catalbas said WV’s tourism industry suffered P90 to P95 billion in foregone revenues from local and foreign arrivals.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, damo gid ya ang mga turista nga naga-abot sa Region 6 maskin wala sang festivals. Amo ni nga damo ang nag-invest sa accommodation establishments kag sa transportation,” she said.
“Pag-abot sang COVID ti may domino effect, tumba tanan. Tumba ang airline, tumba ang land transport, kag tumba man ang accommodation kag food and beverage sectors,” Catalbas further said.
Local government units (LGUs) restricted non-essential travel and forced people to stay at home to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
“Masakit gid ini ya sa tourim sector kag sa Region 6 ang pagkadula sang turismo,” said Catalbas.
“[Western Visayas] is a tourism-driven region, amo gid ni ya ang status ta before the pandemic. Ang tourism is one of the main drivers sang aton economy,” she added.
To help revive the region’s tourism industry, Catalbas urged LGUs to reopen their destinations with minimum health and safety measures in place.
“Ginatinguhaan gid naton with the help of LGUs, establishments, kag sang community man nga buhion ang turismo bisan hinay-hinay lang, kag sa safe nga paagi,” she said.IMT
