DoT to develop tourism spots in Caraga

THE Department of Tourism (DoT)-Caraga Region conducted a Tourism Stakeholders Summit in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, on Friday.

Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco attended the event, which brought together tourism stakeholders from the public as well as the private sectors in order to improve cooperation between the DoT and all stakeholders.

The event focuses on developing the region’s structure for promoting the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

Secretary Frasco pointed out in her keynote address that it is past due for the country to recognize the Caraga Region, which is home to an array of tourism attractions, while also highlighting the region’s rich cultural heritage.

“It is only right to shine the spotlight on the Caraga region and give due recognition to the tourism milestones, accomplishments and best practices of our local government units, hotels, resorts and tourism establishments, as well as tourism stakeholders in the academe, retail and hospitality centers,” Frasco said.

The region noted 1,378,751 domestic tourist visitors and 63,281 international visitors in 2023.

These findings led to an estimated P17.3 billion in tourism revenue.

The region, which includes the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands, is home to some of the country’s best-known tourist attractions, such as Siargao Island, the Britania Group of Islands, the Laswitan Lagoon, the Enchanted River and the Tinuy-an Falls.

Secretary Frasco then emphasized the need for cooperative effort in enabling locations like Caraga to grow and prosper.

“This shared tourism governance, in collaboration among the national government, our local government units and our tourism stakeholders in the private sector and [the] academe, is further strengthened by this very timely Caraha Tourism Stakeholders Summit, drawing upon each other’s experiences and collectively rising to the call to love the Philippines,” Frasco said.