Domestic arrivals made up the majority of Holy Week tourists who visited the Island Garden City of Samal on April 2 to 5.

City government data released Tuesday showed that 33,671 local visitors were among the 47,966 tourists who went to the island. The total number of visitors, however, dropped by 34.97 percent from the 73,760 arrivals recorded last year.

City officials attributed the decline to rising fuel costs and intermittent power outages.

“Amid fuel price increases brought about by tensions in the Middle East and the resulting surge in commodity costs, Samal Island continued to draw a high volume of tourist arrivals from April 2 to 5 alone,” the city government said in a public post.

Figures from the Tourist Information and Assistance Desk included 381 foreign tourists while the others were overseas Filipinos, reflecting Samal’s growing international appeal.

Visitor data showed a strong preference for extended stays, with 33,671 overnight guests.

Despite economic pressures, local officials noted that thousands still flocked to Samal for retreat and reflection. They also noted that visitors endured long queues at ports and entry points, waiting patiently despite the heat.

“While the global fuel crisis was expected to slow down various industries, including tourism, Samal Island remained resilient, maintaining strong tourist arrivals throughout Holy Week,” the city tourism office said in a statement. (PNA)