PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Mimaropa is set to conduct visitor surveys this month in tourist destinations in this city, in Coron and in El Nido to update their profile details.
Mimaropa stands for Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.
Rutchel Alcantara of the Provincial Tourism Promotions and Development Office (PTPDO) said Wednesday that the activity would focus on doing Accommodation Establishment Visitor Survey, Tourist Attraction Visitor Survey and Departure Points Visitor Survey starting April 9.
“These surveys will help in the planning of tourism activities, projects, and programs to further develop the tourism industry in the province and the region,” she said.
The surveys will specifically determine the profiles of visitors, their travel characteristics, and the effects of tourism to the economies of both towns.
“They will help in making plans and programs for tourism. Through these surveys, we will be able to see how they are contributing to local economies. We will get the lengths of stay of the tourists, what their expenses are, and what we call revenue of tourism receipts,” she added.
She said when the surveys have been collated, the DOT Mimaropa and the province would be able to plan appropriate activity programs for the tourists.
“Through the surveys, we will be able to upgrade the services we provide and we will be able to bridge any gap we would see,” Alcantara said.
In Puerto Princesa, surveys will be carried out in the Underground River in Barangay Cabayugan; Honda Bay in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, and Crocodile Farm in Barangay Irawan.
In El Nido, in Bacuit Bay and Nacpan Beach; and in Kayangan Lake, Coron Island, and Maquinit Hotspring in Coron.
Departure Points Visitor Survey will be done at the Puerto Princesa International Airport, Lio Airport in El Nido, and Francisco B. Reyes Airport and Coron Seaport in Coron town.
Students of the Palawan State University (PSU) will participate as enumerators. (Celeste Anna Formoso/PNA)
