DOT-WV hopes to lure more Chinese tourists in 2014

 The Department of Tourism (DOT) is hoping to lure more Chinese tourists in Western Visayas this year.

In an interview Friday, DOT regional director for Western Visayas Atty. Helen Catalbas said that in 2013, an estimated 300,000 Chinese tourists visited the region.

"The bulk of this is in Boracay where more than 200,000 Chinese tourists were recorded. We are still finalizing the number of other key tourism cities in the region," said Catalbas.

Aside from Boracay, she said Chinese tourists are also attracted to different cities in the region because of the different festival-celebrations, particularly in Iloilo and Bacolod cities. Chinese tourists also opted to celebrate their annual New Year, which is on January 31 this year, here in the region.

The DOT is also studying other tourism potentials in Western Visayas which can attract Chinese tourists to visit the region.

"We are now prepared for an aggressive tourism campaign among Chinese tourists since Chinese group tours resumes its normal operation last year after it was suspended in 2012," Catalbas said.