CITY OF KORONADAL — Department of Tourism (DOT) XII OIC – Regional Director Armin Hautea disclosed that the Arts, Culture, Tourism & Museum (ACTM) Unit of South Cotabato has showed sterling performance particularly in making the province the most visited tourist destination not only in SOCSKSARGEN Region bu in the entire country.
Speaking during the South Cotabato Tourism Officers Yearend Meeting held at VSL Exclusive Resort here, OIC_RD Hautea stressed that he is always confident about the province’s ability to implement different tourism plans, programs and activities (PPAs), despite the on-going pandemic that gave way to the “new normal” which calls for the strict adherence to minimum health protocols.
No less than DOT Secretary Bernadette Puyat, Hautea confirmed, mentioned about South Cotabato’s performance despite the on-going pandemic.
From 1.3 million tourist arrivals in 2019, the arrivals dived to 400,000 in 2020 but the province recovered fast in 2021 when it almost reached the 1 million mark in the third quarter of the year.
ake Sebu, City of Koronadal, Tupi, Norala and Banga LGUs of South Cotabato were included among the top ten (10) most visited tourist destinations in SOCSKSARGEN for the same period of the year.
Tourism Officers suggested to Hautea which he readily agreed, for trainers training of local talents or resource speakers in the province which in turn will train tourism sectoral groups or stakeholders on different programs of the tourism department.. In this way, tourism officers stressed, that there is no need for them to seek the services of trainers from Metro Manila or other areas in the country.
