Tourist arrivals in Western Visayas increased by almost 2.8 percent in 2007 – from only 1,067,702 in 2006 to 1,097,237 in the previous year, records of the Department of Tourism show.

Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta said in a government report the figure can still rise as other provinces and cities in the region have yet to submit their updates.

The increase can still go up, considering that we already registered an increasing trend of 2.77 percent, he said.

Trompeta said the Koreans top the tourists arrivals in Western Visayas, followed by the Americans and the Chinese.

He said the bulk of tourism investments are in the Visayas and

and there are growing signs that the Strong Republic Central Tourism Super Region is “really working magic, and is becoming a reality.”

The Central Philippines super region has been declared as the country’s tourism hub by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It includes the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and the provinces of Palawan and Romblon.*

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