The Eastern Visayas regional office of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) reported that the region earned PHP 39.33 billion in tourism revenues in 2024.

In her report on Thursday, March 13, DOT regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes announced that tourist spending in the region rose from the PHP 31.52 billion reported in 2023.

According to Tiopes: “If we look at our growth rate from 2022 to 2023, we actually achieved a growth rate of 27.27 percent. Also, between 2023 and last year, we experienced a growth rate of 21.75 percent.”

The arrival of 1.6 million tourists in the region significantly contributed to rising tourism revenues from hotel stays, dining, transportation, and retail.

Tiopes added: “With regard to day tours to various sites in Eastern Visayas, we welcomed 5.55 million visitors. That is how vibrant our tourism industry was last year.”

Tiopes’ report is based on the individual assessments from cities and municipalities in the region, illustrating that Eastern Visayas surpassed the national tourism growth target of 15 percent.

Tale of the Tape

Among Eastern Visayan provinces, Samar ranked first for overnight guest arrivals with 338,727, followed by Tacloban City with 377,000, Leyte with 361,000, Southern Leyte with 232,000, Northern Samar at 208,000, Eastern Samar with 60,000, and Biliran with 42,000.

The most popular destinations in the region in 2024 included Kalanggaman Island, San Juanico Bridge, and the Leyte Landing Memorial.