Tourist arrivals in Mati hit 98K in Q1

FOR the first three months of 2018, Mati City had already noted 98,000 tourist arrivals while big and small hotel players continue to express interest in investing in the city.

Mati City Promotions and Investment Officer Tanya Rabat Tan said in 2013 they were able to record only about 35,000 tourist arrivals for the entire year. However, over the years and continued promotion of the tourist destinations in Mati City, there had been a recorded 292,000 tourist arrivals for the entire 2017.

“I think when our mayor Carlo Rabat sat in the position. He opened Mati and welcomed everybody. He reached out to everyone. I think this is one factor. Plus, it was also on the way Mati was promoted to the public,” said Tan.

She said she already met with hotel owners and representatives expressing interest in putting up branches in the city.

Meanwhile, to answer the arising need for potable water brought about by increasing tourist arrivals and business investments in the city, Tan said they will be putting up another water system that will supply potable water in the city.

“These are what the investors are waiting for because when you want to invest in things like an ice plant, or canning factories, you would need water,” she said.

Aside from the Sleeping Dinosaur tourist destination, Tan said they are actually proud of the abundance of their fishes. Because of which, companies have also expressed in putting up a canning facility in the city especially also that they are rich in tunas.

Tan said they could not yet disclose timeline details and background of the companies but assured that within the year huge business enterprises will spring in Mati City already. JPA