A Municipal Tourism Office executive is confident the 5.2 million tourist arrivals here in 2023 will be reached or even be surpassed since around 3.26 million arrivals have been recorded as of the end of September this year.

In a phone interview on Friday, municipal tourism operations officer Brendon Natividad said they expect to gain more visitors in the upcoming long weekends, the Christmas break, and during the Galicayo Festival in December.

Tourism office data show 623, 616 tourists visited the town in May or during school break.

The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary of Manaoag, believed to be miraculous, tops the tourist destinations in the town, with around 3.2 million visitors.

Other attractions include the Virgin’s Well in the village of Purago with 44,814 visitors in the first three quarters this year; Amber’s Paradise, a hotel resort, 15,518; One Alo Resort, 7,912; and Baba’s Eco Farm, 433.

Natividad said faith tourism or pilgrim tourism is prominent in their town.

Aside from the Minor Basilica, the tourism office also offers a tour of the sampaguita farm in Barangay Baritao.

“We do small tours but it needs to be scheduled with us,” he said.

The less than one-hectare farm with around 10-25 Sampaguita farmers who are also the ones making garlands, can be a side-trip before visiting the Minor Basilica.

“They harvest the flowers very early in the morning, so we should be there during that time to see how they prepare the garlands sold in our town,” he said.

Natividad added that they are also excited about the upcoming Paskuhan or Christmas events in the town and the annual Galicayo Festival on the first week of December.

Galicayo is a unique celebration of faith, culture, and arts in honor of the Our Lady of Rosary of Manaoag.

“We hope to even reach around six million tourist arrivals this year,” he said. (PNA)