By Shaun Alejandrae Y. Uy
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — “The Department of Tourism aims to further promote sports tourism as part of our limitless adventure offerings with our various activities across the different destinations in northern Mindanao,” said DOT-10 Regional Director Marie Elaine Salvaña-Unchuan during the July 9 episode of Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas.
DOT-10 continues to support several sports tourism events, such as the popular triathlon event LaNorteMan in Lanao del Norte, where more than 250 triathletes from all over the country joined the first leg of the LaNorteMan Congressional Series in 2023.
The agency has also continued to support national and international dragon boat competitions in Cagayan de Oro since 2015, bringing approximately 600 paddlers to the city.
Unchuan said sports events such as the PAL Interclub Tournament brought 1,700 golfers from across the world and showcased two of Northern Mindanao’s championship golf courses, namely, Pueblo de Oro and Del Monte.
These would also bring in revenue to the region in terms of gross tourism receipts, as Unchuan cites that when an international player joins a tournament, one may spend around P10,000 per day for accommodations in high-end hotels and expenses on food and other local products.
A five-day golf tournament with a thousand players would bring in P85 million in gross tourism receipts.
Mostly partnering with local government units, supporting activities like the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Manolo Fortich, which is now in its 4th year, and the recently concluded Paragliding Competition in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro bring in an influx of local and international tourists.
According to Unchuan, bringing in tourists would bring livelihoods or jobs to the tourism communities in the region.
DOT-10 provides partners with cultural presentations, food, and other tourism-related support during sporting events.
The DOT-10 would spend about P300,000 or more to support these sports tourism activities, but the return in terms of the revenue it generates for the locality is bigger.
Other sports activities, such as game fishing competitions in Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte, motocross and Motorismo tourism circuits across the region, and whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro, would also help boost tourism economic activity. (SAYU/PIA-10)
