CamSur rated by NEDA as RP’s top destination

Recorded over 1.29 million visitors in 2009

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) listed Camarines Sur at the top of tourism destinations in the country amidst a tourism industry boom that rose by a hefty 16.66 percent last year and is yet expected to swell this year into a $17 billion industry.

This was revealed in a report by NEDA director Dennis Arroyo, carried in the front page of Manila Bulletin of February 19, who said the expected tourism revenues would contribute as much as 13.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

CamSur posted a total of 1.29 million domestic and foreign tourist arrivals last year, fully 24.8 percent or close to one-fourth of the total number of 5.2 million visitors who visited the country in 2009.     The NEDA report credits the surge of tourist arrivals not only to the natural wonders of the country complemented by improved tourism infrastructures and intensified thrusts of the government to promote tourism.

This development all the more vindicates the ambitious tourism strategies and initiatives launched by Governor LRay Villafuerte in the province like the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) now conceded the best cable wake park in the world and large-scale tourism projects in Caramoan including the famed Gota Village Resort that has become a favorite setting of many international TV and film production firms.

NEDA director Arroyo underscored the importance of the tourism industry to the local economy being global in magnitude capable of serving as powerful growth engine that can jumpstart the economy, accommodate large levels of investment, has very high local added-value and can generate huge direct and indirect employment.

To realize tourism targets, director Arroyo enjoins all levels of government to continue to improve tourism infrastructure, particularly accommodations and road networks, more air service arrangements and easy visa requirements – mechanisms that Governor Villafuerte has been doing his utmost to achieve for several years now. (GBClaveria/MMEC)

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