BY JEN BAYLON
CAPIZ – The tourism industry in Capiz province in 2023 thrived despite the threat of red tide.
Tourist arrivals surged by 14% last year, according to Alphonsus D. Tesoro, head of the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.
The province welcomed 193,100 visitors, surpassing the 2022 figure of 169,668.
These statistics serve as evidence that Capiz boasts attractions beyond its renowned seafood offerings, said Tesoro.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) declared last week that collecting, cooking, and eating shellfish from the waters of Western Visayas is now safe.
According to BFAR’s Jan. 11 advisory, the town of Pontevedra in Capiz province, previously the only area still affected by paralytic shellfish poison, has been cleared.
The declaration of safety followed an announcement in December 2023 that the coastal waters of Sapian Bay (Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz) and Roxas City, including other parts of the region, were free from the toxic red tide.
These areas, including Pontevedra, had been under BFAR’s watch since August 2023.
Despite the temporary restrictions due to the red tide, visitors were able to still enjoy a variety of seafood, such as fish, squid, shrimp, and crab, that are safe for consumption.
The Maragtas Festival, Tesoro noted, has significantly contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals as each municipality in the province showcased its tradition and the talents of its people.
Tesoro expressed hope that, aside from being known as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines, Capiz will also be recognized as the Festival Capital of the Philippines.
Through this, he added, the tourism sector in Capiz is poised to further grow./PN
