At least 1,442,032 tourists visited the Caraga region in 2023, data from the regional tourism office indicated Thursday.

The visits brought in PHP17.3 million worth of tourism receipts in the region – PHP16.5 million from domestic visitors and PHP759,372 from foreigners, who accounted for 4.4 percent of the total arrivals.

“Accessibility is a key factor contributing to the increase in our tourist arrivals,” Department of Tourism (DOT) 13 (Caraga) Director Ivonnie Dumadag said in a message to the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.

She noted that local government units in the region are also becoming “more aggressive” in terms of tourism product development.

“DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco had been working very hard in advancing tourism in many ways – from skills development to enforcement of standards and marketing – to enhance the overall tourism experience in the country,” Dumadag said.

Meanwhile, the region also registered a 98.8 percent increase in tourist arrivals last year compared to the 725,266 arrivals recorded in 2022.

Domestic visits also increased by 93.4 percent last year with 711,059 recorded in 2022 and a 345.4 percent increase in foreign arrivals with only 14,207 logged in the previous year.

Agusan del Norte registered a 221.63 percent increase with 99,824 arrivals last year compared to 31,037 in the previous year, and Agusan del Sur at 35.9 percent with 73,811 visits in 2023 compared to 54,300 in 2022.

Surigao del Norte also logged an increase in tourist arrivals last year at 189.18 percent with 530,719 arrivals compared to 183,528 in the previous year; Surigao del Sur at 122.92 percent with 158,083 arrivals compared to 70,916 in 2022; and Dinagat Islands with 35.76 percent with 22,832 visits last year compared to 16,818 in 2022.

Tourist arrivals last year also rose in Butuan City at 88.4 percent, Bayugan City (166.6 percent), Bislig City (174.7 percent), Cabadbaran City (18.65 percent), Surigao City (18.4 percent), and Tandag City (21.5 percent). (PNA)