Siargao (CNN Philippines, April 25) — Tour operators in the country’s surfing capital Siargao said the industry is returning to vibrancy with the stream of visitors to the island.
They said bookings in the island in Surigao del Norte have reached pre-pandemic levels such that they had to turn down bookings for lack of accommodation especially on weekends.
“One hundred percent na talaga sa ngayon, nabalik na talaga ang dati,” said local operator Augustin Mecate.
[Translation: It has gone back to how it was before, it’s at 100% now.]
Mecate, who owns a family-run tour shop, said a number of visitors were unable to go island hopping since all boats were fully booked. Tourists had to wait in line for boats.
In Siargao’s go-to sites, devastation from Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) in December 2021 have undergone repairs while some of the roads are being upgraded.
Officials in Siargao said they are nearing full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the storm.
Surigao del Norte First District Rep. Bingo Matugas believes they are only at 80% recovery in terms of tourist arrivals.
Matugas, a resident of Siargao, said all flights to the island before COVID-19 have yet to be restored and resorts are slowly rebuilding.
Caraga tourism regional director Ivonnie Dumadag said foreign visitors to Siargao are mostly from the United States, Portugal, Israel, the United Kingdom, and France.
Before the pandemic, annual visitors to the island numbered 181,100. Over 176,500 local and foreign visitors were recorded last year and DOT-Caraga is expecting an increase this year.
Over the weekend, Siargao also welcomed visitors to the 13th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament, which was on hiatus for three years due to COVID-19. The event was opened by local officials and Sen. Imee Marcos as guest of honor.
There were over 30 participants from the Philippines, Germany, Canada, Japan, and the UK.
