PH welcomes five cruise calls in Mindanao
THE Philippines is scheduled to welcome five cruise calls in Mindanao this year even as it has been identified as a cruise stop for 2024, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said yesterday.
This year’s cruise calls will be in Bucas Grande, Daku Island, and Sohoton in Surigao del Norte, as well as in North Sibayan in Davao.
In preparations, Mindanao’s cruise tourism portfolio is now being developed.
New shore excursion packages are currently being designed for Zamboanga City and Tawi-Tawi, while existing cruise tours are also being updated as a result of the DOT Cruise Stakeholders Familiarization Tour and Site Assessment last August 1 to 5.
Among the said cruise tours for the island group, which encompass a diverse range of experiences, are culture and heritage tours, interfaith tours, island tours, and expedition ship journeys.
The five-day inspection, organized by the DOT Office of Product and Market Development (OPMD) Cruise Team, brought together stakeholders such as port agents, shore excursion handlers, tour operators, local government units of Zamboanga City and Tawi-Tawi, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and other cruise tourism partners.
Coordinated in partnership with the Office of DOT Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar, the site evaluation not only delved into the cultural and scenic treasures of Mindanao but also evaluated its potential as a future hub for domestic and international cruise travel.
