The Department of Tourism in Bicol (DOT-5) has recorded a total of 4,435,883 foreign and domestic visitors in the region in 2024.

During the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” on Thursday, Herbie Aguas, DOT-5 regional director, said they reached their tourist arrival target last year and are optimistic about continued growth.

“As of now, in 2025, the arrival of tourists here is looking great. I’ve been going back and forth to Manila and going to the ports. We are always on full flights, even on our boats, and I see foreigners boarding them. This is really a good sign for the Bicol region, and I think we will surpass last year’s tourist arrivals,” he said.

Aguas said the tourist gross receipts generated in 2024 was PHP3.2 billion for domestic and PHP103 million for foreign visitors.

The United States of America remains on top among the 10 foreign markets with 5,097 visitors; followed by China with 1,956; and Australia, 1,857.

“Since 2023, ten cruise ships have visited the Bicol Region, and more are expected to arrive. One of the destinations they love the most is our breathtaking Mayon Volcano, Calaguas in Camarines Norte, Palumbanes in Catanduanes, and Ticao in Masbate,” Aguas said.

He also highlighted the importance of the Filipino brand of service excellence, saying they have trained 4,847 tourism front liners providing quality service to tourists.

“No matter how beautiful a place or an establishment is, if tourists do not have a good experience with the tourism workers, they will not come back. So this is really a game changer—what we are doing with the Filipino brand of service,” Aguas said.

He said DOT-Bicol has also laid out upcoming projects, programs, and activities such as tourism road infrastructure, sustaining ecotourism, marketing and product development, river tourism, to further develop tourism in the region.

By 2028, DOT-Bicol targets to reach 8.5 million tourist arrivals and hopes to increase job opportunities by 15 percent. (PNA)