ECONOMIC GROWTH
SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH
Our strategy to boost Tourism with unprecedented arrivals of 800,000 in 2019 and improve on Information Communication Technology working with the telecommunication backbone in the country are significant steps toward economic growth that is sustainable and benefits all Camiguinons.
Even during the closure of our tourism activities, the Provincial Government continues to rehabilitate all its tourist sites. One of the priority projects of the Provincial Government is the development of Mantigue Nature Park.
TOURISM DRIVES ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE PROVINCE
Launched on March 17, the new Camiguin Isle Be There tourism brand of the Provincial Government of Camiguin marks a fresh start from the pandemic and promotes a safer and more convenient Camiguin experience.
With the primary aim to enhance tourist experience and reach the pre-pandemic level of 800,000 tourist arrivals and to breach one million by the year 2025, the new tourism brand is part of the provincial government’s comprehensive tourism development and management plan.
To enhance tourism experience and realize these goals, the province provides capacity building trainings to reskill and upskill tourism workers who are at the forefront of Camiguin’s tourism industry, and is also adapting technology and innovation to provide a more unique, seamless, and quality tourism experience.
Leading Camiguin to digitalization, Governor Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo envisions to implement and systemize Smart Tourism, where tourists can enjoy their island experience with ease. To position Camiguin as a Smart island, with the tourism industry leading the way, the Clean Camiguin QR System was established as a visitor entry portal. Through this, the data gathering of daily tourist arrivals became more efficient.
Along with the launching of the new tourism campaign, the province also launched the E-Ticketing System to enhance the processes in visiting Camiguin. It is an online system that allows tourists to digitally book and purchase tickets if they visit Camiguin’s prime tourist sites and attractions. However, with some constraints due to internet connectivity at the tourist sites, the province only currently implements the offline e-ticketing system in Soda Water Park and Mantigue Island.
Another major tourism project of the province is the development of the Mantigue Island Nature Park. To develop Mantigue Island into a world-class ecotourism destination, the province formulated the Mantigue Island Comprehensive Development and Management Plan, to address the challenges on legalities, logistics, visitor flow, infrastructure, and sustainability.
As Mantigue Island is classified as a forestland, the provincial government through the Provincial Tourism Office is in the process of applying for the Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT) of Mantigue Island through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to manage and develop the island. The provincial government targets to start the development by the last quarter of 2023.
PTO collections from tourism booms during summer 2023
With boosting and improving tourism as one of the Provincial Governor, Hon. Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo’s Ten-Point Agenda Plus One, the Provincial Treasurer’s Office has seen a significant increase in the income coming from economic enterprises and economic activities as summer approached in the country.
When the first quarter of 2023 passed by, the income from the mentioned enterprises and activities was able to reach P2,798,136.05. But, as for the next quarter, a visible increase was seen since it has grown to P7,014,815.77. This income covers the Lease/Rental of Facilities, Other Economic Undertakings/Activities in which Tourism-Related and other Facilities are included, and also other sales.
During the first three months of the same year, a total of P425,874.00 was collected from Lease and Rental Facilities where the P222,834.40 was from the month of January, P104,980.00 from February, and P98,060.00 from March. Other economic undertakings and activities for the three months was also able to reach P2,372,261.65 with the month of March as the highest recorded income within the quarter with P898,736.80, followed by February with P812,561.57, and January with P660,963.28.
The income from tourism-related and other facilities also jumped to P2,259,176.65 of which January contributed with P620,013.28, February with P762,011.57, and March with P877,151.80. Other sales of the sector also contributed P113,085.00.
In contrast, the second quarter, April, May, and June, was able to garner P262,555.62 from Lease and Rental Facilities with P79,880.00 worth of income from April, P72,820.62 for May, and P109,855.00 for June. Other economic undertakings and activities accumulated P6,752,260.15 with April as the leading month with the most collections as it adds up to a total of P2,414,140.43 where the month of May is trailing up close with P2,262,715.58, and June with P2,092,824.14.
It was also recorded that the month of April gathered P2,398,640.43, May also with P2,228,965.58, and June with P2,077,274.14 from the collections of tourism-related and other facilities which all adds up to P6,687,460.15. The office also collected a total of P64,800.00 from other sales.
