By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent
CAGAYAN de Oro and Camiguin topped the tourism department’s list of cities and provinces in northern Mindanao that had the most number of tourists last year, available data show.
The rankings were based on the 2019 third-quarter data on overnight stays collected from hotels, resorts and similar establishments.
Based on available data shown in the Regional Distribution of Travelers in Region 10, Cagayan de Oro had the most number of tourists at 702,230 as of the third quarter of 2019.
Cagayan de Oro was followed by the island province of Camiguin at 568,163.
John Baclig, tourism operations officer of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the region, said the number of Cagayan de Oro’s tourists last year could shoot up to over 800,000 once the 2019 fourth quarter data are factored in.
The city registered 838,868 tourists in 2018.
Among the cities in Region 10, Ozamiz City ranked second with 243,180 based on the DOT’s available data for 2019. It was followed by Valencia City in Bukidnon with 115,292; Oroquieta City with 38,220; Iligan City with 69,280; Malaybalay City in Bukidnon with 17,931; and Tangub City with 10,247.
Camiguin topped the provinces in northern Mindanao with 568,163. Lanao del Norte followed with 29,520; Bukidnon with 4,565; and Misamis Occidental with 3,415.
Baclig said the data from Misamis Oriental have not been factored in because a report for 2019 has yet to be submitted to the DOT.
But in 2018, Misamis Oriental ranked next to Camiguin, registering 50,960 tourists based on data on overnight stays collected from hotels, resorts and similar establishments. Camiguin had 750,874 in 2018.
Baclig opined that while Misamis Oriental had its share of tourists, many had been booked in Cagayan de Oro hotels.
“But kung moingon ka’g moadto sa Sagpulon, Agutayan, kana daghan g’yud na siya. Pero dili siya counted kay moingon ka’g arrival of tourists dapat overnight g’yud siya... Kung moingon ka’g tourist arrival, kana g’yud mo-spend og overnight stay in a particular accomodation.”
Baclig said the number of places where tourists could stay during their visit is very important.
Camiguin, for instance, have numerous resorts that could accommodate tourists. “Dili dako ang Camiguin but daghan sila’g resorts. Dili in ana kadaghan ang hotels pero naay daghan gagmay nga accomodation facilities like pension houses. Besides, Camiguin is the top destination for Caucasians and Europeans.”
As for Cagayan de Oro, he said, the city has a number of three- to four-star hotels.
