Tourist arrivals in Pangasinan 23.5 % up in 2023 – official

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan: Tourist arrivals in Pangasinan last year were 23.5 percent higher than the previous year, the head of the province’s tourism office said on Wednesday, January 24.

Maria Luisa Elduayan, provincial tourism and cultural affairs office chief, said that same-day tourist arrivals in 2023 reached 8.4 million, which is about 1.9 million more than the 6.8 tourist arrivals in 2022.

“There was also an increase in overnight tourist arrivals based on reports of the different accommodation establishments in the province. Last year, we had about 663,000 visitors, and in 2022, we had 538,000 tourists,” said Elduayan.

The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in Manaoag town emerged as the top tourist destination last year.

Based on the same-day tourist arrivals report, about 4 million pilgrims and Catholic faithfuls visited the basilica, which has become more accessible through the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

Other Pangasinan destinations that attracted more tourists last year were the Hundred Islands

National Park in Alaminos City and the towns of Bolinao, Dasol, Burgos, Lingayen and Binalonan.

“I’m very proud to report that with the development in Bolinao, being the ‘Giant Clam Capital of the Philippines,’ it is a finalist in the DoT (Department of Tourism) champion challenge,” Elduayan said.

The town hosts the country’s largest giant clam sea nursery set up by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute in a shallow reef around Silaki Island in 1987.

It can be reached by a motorboat from Bolinao mainland in 30 minutes.

The Hundred Islands continued to gain more visitors because of the different activities it offers including island hopping, bat and bird watching, kayaking, jet skiing, zip line, helmet diving, parasailing, among others.

“We have been promoting visits to destinations which are ready to entertain or to accommodate the needs of our tourists. So, most of the preferred destinations are the likes of Bolinao, which has many tourist spots,” said Elduayan.

Bolinao boasts of the Balingasay River, Ilocos Region’s cleanest river, where tourists can enjoy a river cruise aboard a floating restaurant pulled by a motorized boat.

Other popular beach destinations are in the towns of Dasol, Burgos and Anda.

“Western Pangasinan towns definitely offer different experiences, different activities. They have different colors of beach sand and even different colors of rocks,” Elduayan said.

Elduayan said that more tourists are expected this year to visit the capital town Lingayen because of its newly opened Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum.

“We are promoting it as a prime destination for anyone who wants to know and discover or rediscover Pangasinan,” Elduayan added.

Since its opening on Sept. 8, 2023, it has already attracted almost 7,000 guests.

“Last December, we started collecting fees. I’m happy that the visitors

are supportive in paying entrance fees. We had to pay for its maintenance and upkeep,” Elduayan said.