WITH the resurgence of tourism activity in Oriental Mindoro after its full recovery from the damage caused by the oil spill, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco bared several projects as the Department of Tourism (DOT) push for the province to be a next major cruise destination.

Frasco said the DOT is planning to open its Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Bongabong by 2024 and will also put up a hyperbaric chamber in Puerto Galera to capitalize on the coastal town’s position as one of the country’s prime dive destinations.

“We feel that all the assets that are present in Oriental Mindoro— from their beaches, to their dive sites, to their caves, their mountainscapes, and the hinterlands and best of all the people of Oriental Mindoro, make for the perfect formula for success in terms of tourism destinations,” Frasco said.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 4-B (Mimaropa) officer-in-charge Director Roberto Alabado III said a new cruise terminal is expected to be put up in Puerto Galera.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), he said has announced its plan to build the “modern cruise port” in the coastal town.

“We are expecting that perhaps by next year or 2025 magsisimula na ‘yong kanyang cruise port (the cruise port will be open),” Alabado III said.

He explained the DOT will also work with the local government units so that while the construction of the port is still ongoing, the residents will be ready to handle the eventual influx of tourists on the island.

“The attractions are there but we have to ensure the capacity, the accessibility. Because depending on the size of the cruise, it can range from just a few hundred to a few thousand,” he said.

Alabado said Oriental Mindoro can offer to cruise passengers activities such as cove-hopping tours, a quick side trip to the island’s waterfalls and white sand beaches, or let them immerse into Oriental Mindoro’s culture while interacting with the locals.

“These activities are already there and can already be easily developed into a world-class tour for tourists disembarking their cruise ships,” he said.

Alabado said Oriental Mindoro could also use this period to carefully plan and develop the quality of its offerings, specifically for visiting cruise ships.

“Maraming dumadaong dito na maliliit na barko pero itong cruise port na gagawin ay para sa malalaking barko or cruise ships na dapat paghandaan (There are smalls vessels that anchor or make port calls here but the cruise port that will be built are for the big cruise ships),” he said.

The Philippines was recently named “Asia’s Best Cruise Destination 2023” by the prestigious World Cruise Awards.

As of Oct. 16, the Philippines is projected to have a total of 128 cruise calls in 2023 across 33 destinations across the country.

These cruise ships are expected to bring in more than 101,000 passengers and some 50,000 crew.