President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo resumes today her super-region tour with an inspection of tourism projects in four provinces in Central Philippines, the region mapped out as the country’s tourist corridor under her five-growth region development strategy, the Office of the Press Secretary, said in a press release.

Press Secretary Cris Icban Jr., said the President’s Super Regions travels are meant to underscore her milestone achievements over the past nine years which she intends to turn over to the next President who will build on them further.

Central Philippines-Tourism Super Region encompasses Regions 4B, Regions 5 to 8, as well as the provinces of Romblon, Palawan, Camiguin and the island of Siargao where most of the country’s top tourist destinations are spread and now enjoying unprecedented business boom, the press release said.

First stop of the President’s tour is Sorsogon province where she will have a chance at whale shark watching (called “butanding” which means big fish in the vernacular) in the fishing town of Donsol. Shark watching is a major eco-tourism activity that has earned for the Bicol town the tag “Whale Capital of the World.” Time Magazine in 2004 ran a feature on the town titled “Beat Animal Encounter in Asia”.

Sorsogon with its Donsol attraction and Camarines Sur with its wakeboarding center and the Caramoan beach and coves which hosted the global TV series “Survivor”, are the two Bicol provinces reaping tremendous tourism arrivals and revenues.

Cebu tops the list of 14 leading tourist destinations in the Philippines, followed by Camarines Sur and Metro Manila in that order, the press release added.*OPS

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