THE island province of Camiguin welcomed 288,588 tourists in 2024, a 37% increase from the previous year’s 210,271 visitors, driven by improved tourism systems and data-driven strategies.
Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo revealed the figures during his State of the Province Address on Monday, attributing the rise to the province’s “Isle Visit Camiguin” smart tourism system, which tracks visitor data in real-time.
“Our success in tourism is bolstered by the groundbreaking of our smart tourism system, which contributed to a 37% increase in visitors in 2024,” Romualdo said.
Of the total visitors, 269,981 were local tourists, while 18,577 were foreign travelers, according to a statement from the Philippine Information Agency-Camiguin.
Most local tourists came from neighboring regions, including Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Gingoog, Davao, Iligan, and Butuan, the agency said.
Meanwhile, European tourists made up the majority of foreign visitors, with 25% from Spain, followed by travelers from the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Romualdo noted that 82% of tourists entered Camiguin via the Balingoan port in Misamis Oriental, with the remainder arriving by air or sea, including nearly 1,000 visitors who traveled by private speedboats and yachts.
Demographic data showed that 31% of visitors were aged 30-44, while 28% were aged 15-29. Men accounted for 53% of the total tourists.
Romualdo highlighted key economic drivers for the province, including transportation, storage, human health, and social work activities, which have contributed to the island’s growing tourism economy.
“More than half of our foreign tourists were from Europe,” he said. “We’re seeing that our data-driven approach has made Camiguin a model for sustainable tourism growth.”
