South Cotabato province has started to recover from the drought in tourist arrivals last year due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic as it recorded a total of 434,706 domestic and foreign visitors in the first quarter.

A report from the Arts, Culture, Tourism and Museum (ACTM) unit of the Provincial Governor’s Office showed that the tourist arrivals in the area from January to March have surpassed the figures for the entire 2020.

Argie Asaria, senior tourism operations officer and ACTM head, said Tuesday it increased by 142 percent based on the total 179,379 visitors in the area in the same period last year or before the onset of the pandemic.

From January to December last year, he said the province only recorded some 400,511 domestic and foreign tourist arrivals as the area was hit by extended border lockdowns and community quarantine.

“Domestic visitors accounted for the bulk of the visitors at 434,686 while some 20 foreigners were monitored to have toured the area,” the ACTM report said.

The foreign tourists comprised of seven Chinese, five South Koreans, five Americans, and three Indians.

It said Lake Sebu remained the province’s top destination with 148,409 visitors, followed by Tupi with 98,120, Norala with 81,492, Banga with 48,400, Koronadal City with 34,355, Tboli with 8,623, Surallah with 6,380, Tampakan with 5,990, Tantangan with 3,278, Polomolok with 1,314 and Sto. Nino with 145.

Records showed that the tourist arrivals in the province started to pick up in December last year with 85,421 visitors.

Some 497 foreign tourists visited the province in 2020 but these were mostly recorded during the pre-Covid-19 pandemic months of January and February.

From March to June last year, the province only monitored some 165 visitors due to the lockdowns.

Asaria earlier said they are continually assisting the reopening of tourism establishments and destinations under the “new normal”.

He assured that they are also monitoring their compliance with the minimum health standards set by the national and provincial governments.

In February and March, the ACTM launched a series of caravans to increase awareness among tourism-oriented and related establishments on the accreditation program of the Department of Tourism.

Tourism establishments and destinations in the province are currently allowed to accommodate visitors up to 50 percent of their capacity due to the area’s prevailing modified general community quarantine status. (PNA)