BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The number of tourist arrivals in Negros Occidental has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels even as the country finally opens its doors to foreign tourists and after the highly successful celebration of the MassKara Festival last month, according to Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
But they did note an increase in the number of local tourist arrivals in the recent MassKara Festival, stressed the governor.
“It’s either Negrenses coming back enjoying it, or friends of Negrenses coming here,” he said.
Lacson said the recent arrivals meant that the province’s tourism industry is gradually recovering.
However, he disagreed that the province has already reached the pre-pandemic threshold of tourist arrivals, pointing out that he has yet to see an increase in the number of visiting foreigners.
“Hindi [pa], because waay pa ta foreign (tourists). I don’t see the Koreans yet. I think we are not yet at that stage, but it’s good that local tourist arrivals are picking up,” the governor pointed out./PN
