Situational Analysis – Tourism Component

Part 1 – Profile and Trends

1. Tourism Arrivals

1.1 Regional Statistics

Tourist Visitor Arrivals in the Cagayan Valley Region as reported by the

Regional Office of Cagayan Valley Region is at 1,174,699 tourists, a 10% growth
from 2017. There is a 10% regional growth in tourists arrivals, however, it can be
noted that Cagayan only grew by 4% which is more than half of the regional growth.

Table 1 – Comparative Statistics on Tourist Arrivals of Region 2 for 2018

Province Total % growth

2017 2018
Batanes 30,844 50,438 164%
Cagayan 568,802 593,823 104%
Isabela 330,995 368,451 111%
Nueva Vizcaya 132,426 150,837 114%
Quirino 9,097 11,150 123%
Total 1,072,164 1,174,699 110%
Source: DOT Region 2 Statistics

Foreign and Local visitor mix for the region is at 77% local and 23% foreign.
However, for Cagayan, the foreign and local visitor mix is at 56% local and 44%
foreign.

Table 2 – Comparative Statistics on Tourist Arrivals per Category of Region 2

for 2018
% %
Province Foreign growth Local growth
2017 2018 2017 2018
Batanes 1,492 1,844 124% 29,352 48,594 166%
Cagayan 286,094 260,007 91% 282,708 333,816 118%
Isabela 4,988 4,814 97% 326,007 363,637 112%
Nueva Vizcaya 1,171 3,304 282% 131,255 147,533 112%
Quirino 57 531 932% 9,040 10,619 117%
Total 293,802 270,500 92% 778,362 904,199 116%
Source: DOT Region 2 Office

Cagayan accounts for 96% of all foreign tourists and 37% of all local tourists
within the region. In total visitor arrivals, Cagayan accounts for 51% of total visitors.
Table 3 – Foreign and Local Visitor Share per Province for 20018

Province Foreign/Overseas % of total Local % of total Total % of total

Batanes 1,844 0.682% 48,594 5% 50,438 4%
Cagayan 260,007 96% 333,816 37% 593,823 51%
Isabela 4,814 2% 363,637 40% 368,451 31%
Nueva Vizcaya 3,304 1.2% 147,533 16% 150,837 13%
Quirino 531 0.196% 10,619 1% 11,150 1%
Total 270,500 100% 904,199 100% 1,174,699 100%
Source: DOT Region 2 Office

Aside from looking at visitor arrivals, a more important indicator of

economic activity is tourism receipts. Based on the DOT Region 2 report, the
average daily expenditures of domestic tourists is at Php2,000 and foreign tourists
at $70 (converted at $1 = Php50.00 is Php3,500). Expenditures from same day
visitors was pegged at Php1,750, only a Php250 difference from those that stay
overnight.
The regional growth in tourism receipts is at 10% which tallies with the 10%
regional growth in tourist arrivals. This signifies that the average daily
expenditures remained the same in 2017 and 2018. The increase in visitor receipts
was mainly due to the same % increase in visitor arrivals.

Table 4 – Region 2 Comparative Visitor Receipts for 2018 and 2017

Visitor Receipts 2018 2017 % increase

Tourists

Domestic 3,422,420,000.00 2,996,040,000.00 114%

Foreign 1,542,085,440.00 1,677,859,400.00 92%

4,964,505,440.00 4,673,899,400.00 106%

Same Day

Domestic 2,805,834,500.00 2,562,659,750.00 109%

Foreign 26,258,750.00 7,434,000.00 353%

2,832,093,250.00 2,570,093,750.00 110%

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Grand Total 7,796,598,690.00 7,243,993,150.00 108%
Source: DOT Region 2 Office

1.2 Provincial Highlights

There are 593,823 tourists who visited Cagayan Province, Table 5 shows the
breakdown of the tourists per municipality/city. It may be noted however that
some municipalities are not included in the list due to non-submission of report to
the regional office.

Table 5 – Regional Distribution of Travellers per Municipality within PIEST

Domestic % of Total Foreign % of Total

Cagayan
Province 333,816 260,007
Penablanca 1,502 0.45% 17 0%
Tuguegarao City 169,883 50.89% 2,451 1%
Sta. Ana 72,184 21.62% 256,160 99%
Gonzaga 5505 1.65% 47 0%
Lallo 21593 6.47% 131 0.05%
Aparri 13310 3.99% 375 0.14%
Claveria 29003 8.69% 353 0.14%
Abulug 13944 4.18% 138 0.05%
Sta. Praxedes 767 0.23%
Allacapan 1192 0.36% 195 0.07%
Sanchez Mira 3113 0.93% 17 0.00%
Ballesteros 1820 0.55% 123 0.00%

Source: DOT Region 2 Office

Not all municipalities/cities have submitted their tourist arrival data. Of

those that submitted, only Penablanca and Tuguegarao City were among those
within the study area (PIEST). Sta. Ana, where the Engano Lighthouse and Palaui
Island is located. The sun and see attraction of Sta. Ana makes it the most visited
town accounting for 99% of foreign tourists visiting Cagayan province has Sta. Ana
as its destination. Palaui Island is just a 10-minute boat ride from the mainland of
Sta. Ana.

Aside from the visitors who stay an average of two days (based on DOT
Region 2 Statistics), there are a significant number of same day visitors with a total
of 701,488 visitors for 2018. In fact, 54% of total visitors stay only for a day while

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54% of visitors stay at least for overnight. More activities and accommodation
facilities should be created to convert these same day visitors to overnighters.

Table 6 – Comparative Report of Same Day Visitors versus Tourists

% of % of % of
Domestic Total Foreign Total Total Total
Tourists 333,816 33% 260,007 96% 593,823 46%
Same Day
Visitors 689,696 67% 11,792 4% 701,488 54%
Total Visitors 1,023,512 100% 271,799 100% 1,295,311 100%

Part 2 - Key Programs, Projects & Activities

2.1 Accessibility

2.1.1 By Air from Manila/Clark

Cebu Pacific operates the Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila with two round trip
flights daily from NAIA Terminal 3. Philippine Airlines on the other hand, flies via
Clark-Tuguegarao-Clark once daily.
Location of New Airport is still being finalized as expansion of the current
airport will be very expensive. Government officials are still not in agreement as to
its location. Provincial government is looking at Solana or the southwestern part
(Tuaw along Piat, Solana and Amulong) of Tuguegarao. The Lallo international
airport is operated by CEZA.

2.1.2 By Land from Manila

Bus companies plying the Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila route include Victory
Liner, Five Star Bus Co. Inc., Dalin Bus Line, Heaven Blessed Bus Line Express Inc.,
GV Florida Trans Inc. and EMC Bus Company. Travel time is from 9 to 11 hours.

Victory Liner alone has 14 daily trips from Kamias to Tuguegarao, 15 daily
trips from Sampaloc to Tuguegarao and 7 daily trips from Caloocan to Tuguegarao.
Its trips ranges from the regular aircon (Php886.00), first class (Php934.00) and
deluxe (Php1,150.00).

By private transport, Cagayan can be reached via the North Diversion Road
and exit at Sta. Rita. From Ilocos Norte, Cagayan can be reached passing through
Patapat Bridge.

2.1.3 Within Metro Tuguegarao

2.1.3.1 Tuguegarao City

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Tricycles are the most convenient way of going around the city with a few
horse driven carriages (Calesa). It can be noted however that during peak hours in
the afternoon, traffic can be observed as there are hundreds of tricycles. Also,
walking around the city is not convenient as there are a lot of cars and tricycles
parked on the side of the streets preventing people from

2.1.3.2 Nearby municipalities of PIEST

From Tuguegarao City, the distance of the municipalities comprising of PIEST

is not very long. In fact, moving from one town to another is relatively easy. Vans,
buses and other vehicles are available for rent on a daily basis to any point within
the province.
Table 7 – Distance of Tuguegarao City with other municipalities within PIEST
Town Distance in Kms
Enrile 13
Iguig 16
Penablanca 9
Solana 10

2.1.4 Road Networks leading to Current Attractions

There is easy access to the Callao Caves and Iguig Calvary Hills as both have
paved roads. The access to Callao Caves during rainy season may experience
erosion

2.2. Attractions

Cagayan is the regional center of commerce and industry in the Cagayan

Valley Region. With 51% of total visitors in the region and the presence of the
Tuguegarao airport, tourism is a very promising industry in the province.

The Core Tourism Products of Cagayan Province are its beaches, pilgrimage,
culture and eco-tourism. The province is being positioned as an Adventure and Eco-
tourism destination.

Table 8 – Attractions within PIEST

Penablanca Iguig Enrile Solana Tuguegarao

Pinacanauan St. James Parish Our Lady of Solana Eco- St. Peter
River Cruise Church Snows Parish tourism Park Metropolitan
Homo Calvary Hills Church Cathedral
Luzonensis Parish

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Sierra Caves St. Claire Sinupak Southern St. Hyacinth
Monastery, Watershed – Cagayan Parish Church
Bayo WW2 camping Research
site (NHI Center –
declared) Cagayan
Breeding
Station
Circadian Flight Pottery, Attulu Lake Carague St. Vincent St. Paul
of Bats Ferrer Parish University
Church, Centro Philippines
San Jacinto Century-old Culinary / Twin Falls Provincial
Seminary well Exotic Food Penitentiary

Peanut Drink
Bibingka
Mondonggo
Twit
Abalin
Asimmawa
Nanna delicacy Jubilee Cross Villa Domingo Provincial
(millet grains) Palace Capitol Building
Maddarulug
Sijin Ecological Old Municipal
Healers of Hall
Mother Earth,
Lannig
Abbenditan Peanut Candy Gabaldon
Cave (longest Bar Buildings
cave)
Whitewater Horno Ruins
Rafter
Cavers Paradise Buntun Bridge
Japanese Culinary / Food
Monument
Pancit Batil
Patung
Chicharabao
Tuguegarao
Longganisa
Larion Bajo -
Bolo

2.2.1 Beaches
A choice of black and white sand beaches is available in Cagayan. The coastal
towns of Calayan and Sta. Ana boast of fine white sand beaches. Palaui Island is
slowly becoming popular among foreign tourists. It has been considered as one of
the top ten beaches in the world by CNN and is a certified eco-tourism destination.
It has abundant marine life and is a protected landscape and seascape.

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2.2.2 Pilgrimage Tourism
Cagayan is known for its centuries-old churches dating back to the Spanish
era. The St. Peter Metropolitan Cathedral (Tuguegarao Cathedral) is an 18th century
Baroque Church built by the Spaniards from 1761 to 1767. Its façade is made of red
bricks and white columns. In Tuguegarao City, there is another church worthy of a
visit from pilgrims is Ermita de San Jacinto (Stone Chapel of St. Hyancinth) which is
a quaint and charming church across St. Paul University.

Other popular churches in Cagayan include the Basilica Minore of Our Lady
of Piat (Piat), St. Peter the Martyr (Pamplona), Ciudad Nueva Segovis (Lal-lo),
Spanish Horno (Camalaniugan), Pata Church Ruins (Sanchez Mira), St. Philomene
Church (Alcala), Massiping Church Ruins (Gattaran).

Iguig is home to the Iguig Calvary Hills and Parish of St. James the Greater
where there are 14 Stations of the Cross which are larger that life-sized depictions
of Jesus’ road to Calvary across rolling hills and overlooking the Cagayan River.

2.2.3 Cultural Tourism

In Cagayan’s tourism brochures, culture is highlighted with actual activities
with the local people such as pottery making in Iguig where actual clay pots are
made by human hands. The Atulu Pottery Village in Iguig is a barangay rich in red
clay which has encouraged residents to be artisans in handcrafted potteries.

A leisurely ride around Tuguegarao can be enjoyed atop a “calesa”. A horse-

drawn carriage which seats 6 to 10 people. A nice alternative to the regular tricycle.

2.2.4. Eco-tourism
The Callao Caves has been declared as an eco-tourism zone located in
Barangay Magdalo, Penablanca. Exploring the different cave systems within Callao
will take the tourist to Callao’s 7 limestone chambers, the 12km long Odessa-
Tumbali, 115-meter deep Jackpot Cave. The Sierra Cave creates the cave-crawling
experience. This eco-tourism adventure ends with a boat ride in Pinacanauan River,
the largest tributary of the Cagayan River where tourists can swim and have a
picnic.

2.2.5. Culinary / Food Tourism

Culinary / Food tourism is a type of tourism activity that tourists look for to
complete the tourist activity. Popular delicacies in Cagayan Province include the
homemade garlic longganisa, pansit batil patong, alcala milk candies, chicharabao,
cacao balls and bagoong cubes.

2.2.6. Farm Tourism

Farm tourism is the current thrust of the Department of Tourism though
there are efforts for developing some farm tourism sites, eco-tourism is still the
primary product for tourism development.

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2.3. Accommodations
Based on the 54% of visitors are same day travellers and the difference in
expenditures of same day visitors with overnighters is only Php250.00. This data
reveals that the kind of tourists the area receives is transient and probably is not in
Cagayan as a final destination.

DOT Region 2 reports that there are nine accredited hotels and five
accredited inns from a total of 63 hotels and inns listed in Tuguegarao City with a
total number of 1,336 rooms.

Table 9 – Room Inventory

Room Room
Nights/day Nights/year Beds per Day Beds per Year
Hotels 452 164,980 904 329,960
Inns 884 322,660 1768 645,320
Total 1,336 487,640 2,672 975,280
Source: DOT Region 2

2.4. Amenities

Support facilities, restaurants, gasoline stations are still not fully developed.
Response to the DOT accreditation of tourism enterprises such as travel and tour
agencies, tour operators, tour guides and other support facilities is very low. The
Regional office laments the poor response of firms to training programs conducted
by them.

Each LGU has an annual festival that it celebrates. These are calendared by
their respective LGU as follows:

June 29 – Aggao Nac Cagayan (Provincial Festival)

July 25 – Minabbanga Festival (Iguig)
Aug 5 – Mappalabbet Festival (Enrile)
August 7-15 – Pavvurrulun “Afi” Festival (Tuguegarao City)
August 16 – Abayaw Festival (Solana)
November 27 – Kilingkingan (bird) Festival (Penablanca)

The DOT Regional office implements Tourism Industry Skills Programs

(TISP) for the training of tourism personnel in the areas of housekeeping, food and
beverage, front office, tour guiding etc. Response to the TISP is dismal as firms
could not send their staff for training due to lack of manpower for its operations.
2.5 Development Plans

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Based on a thorough review of comprehensive land use plans, some portions
of land are being allocated for tourism development. There are a few mentions on
development plans from PIEST Tourism as summarized on Table 10 as follows:

Table 10 – Summary of Tourism Plans per Municipality

Part 3 – Analysis and Recommendations

3.1 SWOT Analysis of Metro Tuguegarao

After a thorough review of the current situation of PIEST using secondary

data, interviews, ocular inspection and consultation with stakeholders, the
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Metro Tuguegarao have been
identified as summarized in Table 11.

Table 11: SWOT Analysis of PIEST

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3.2 Expansion of the Types of Tourism available in PIEST

3.2.1 Adventure and Nature Tourism

Adventure and nature tourism ranks first in the inventory of attractions
within PIEST with the Callao Caves as its biggest tourist attraction. It used to brand
itself as “where adventure never ends” as a way of promoting its caves. Last year, it
has expanded its branding to include the river and the valleys with a new tagline
“Your islands and valley of fun”.

Screenshot of cover page of DOT Region 2’s official website www.region2fun.ph

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3.2.2 Faith and Farm Tourism

Faith and farm tourism featuring centuries old churches and emerging farm
destinations integrated with accommodation facilities are also recognized to draw
in tourist arrivals. Farm tourism sites in Solana and Iguig (DA Southern Cagayan
Resource Center) can be developed. Iguig is the most sound tourism investment
location because it connects to Sta. Ana, Aparri and Ilocos.

3.2.3 Cagayan River Cruise

A Cagayan River Cruise can be developed to connect the 4 municipalities and
Tuguegarao City. Chief of Staff of the Governor Atty. Mamba, mentioned that an
international firm will do silting of the Cagayan River for free and they have recently
signed the MOA.
Opening different ports within the Cagayan River for PIEST will not only be a
tourist attraction but will also be a mode of transportation which can decongest the
roads since we know that the day time population of Tuguegarao is much more than
its night time population.

Map of Cagayan
Source:
https://www.google.com/search?q=map+of+cagayan+river&source=lnms&t

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bm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBxtzrjLDhAhVPUN4KHSXlBAYQ_AUIDygC&bi
w=1340&bih=564#imgrc=96EO05QzEn5-PM:

The suggested Cagayan River Cruise can traverse Tuguegarao (Gosi, Tagga
and Dadda), Enrile (Centro Dos), Solana (Centro and Maddarulug) and Iguig
(Calvary Hill). Floating restaurants can also be used for better touristic appeal.

3.2.4 Pinacanauan River Cruise

Penablanca is the largest tributary of the Cagayan River and can be the
ending of the caving and spelunking activities of tourists in Callao and Sierra caves.
A river cruise can be deliberately developed to increase patronage of the existing
product which is still in its product development stage.

3.2.5 Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events (MICE)

Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Event facilities (MICE) within the
regional government center can also be developed as there is a lack of meeting
space within Tuguegarao City to match its needs as regional center. Further, its
transport system can be improved by having point to point buses and more parking
spaces to free up the side of the street for those who prefer to walk. A MICE facility
within the Regional Government Center in Barangay Carig Sur is being developed by
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which can accommodate 1000-
1500 participants. Also, Pulsar Hotel (Caggay) is also developing a convention
center/banquet facility that can house 1000-1500 persons as part of its expansion
program. With these MICE development, accommodation facilities and transport
systems should be upgraded to handle the increase in arrivals due to conventions
and conferences.

The open spaces are also suggested for development and landscape within
the capitol to create scenic parks that the community can enjoy.

3.3 Revival of Callao Resorts

Tourism Governance is a major issue in the revival of Callao Caves Resort.

With the lack of accommodation facilities in Callao, tourists are forced to only spend
a day trip in the area. With the vast cave networks, spelunking and cave exploration
in the area can take longer than just one day.

A development plan for the Callao Caves Resort has been submitted by the
Provincial Government to TIEZA. The plan was put together by environmental
planners and the provincial tourism office.

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3.4 Formulation of the Tourism Master Plan

The formulation of master plans – provincial, city and municipal tourism

development / master plans are highly encouraged as part of good governance. The
formulation of the TMP or TDP will help assist PIEST in identifying priority
programs for tourism development. The TMP or TDP should be in line with the
development of a Metro Tuguegarao.

Prepared by:

Maria Criselda G. Badilla, PhD

Tourism and Recreation Specialist

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