The municipality of Narra registered a 19-percent increase in tourist arrivals in 2018, records at its tourism office showed.
Tourist arrivals in 2018 reached 120,547, higher by 19,474 compared to the previous year, the town’s data log showed.
The average occupancy rate increased by seven percent from 20.87 percent in 2017 to 27.48 percent in 2018.
Sherwin Corpuz, senior tourism officer of Narra, said their municipality is leading in southern Palawan in terms of same-day tourist arrivals and sixth in the whole province.
Corpuz also said they are still consolidating the records for the first half of the year. But based on his observation, there is again an increase.
“Although tapos na ang ating peak season pero tumaas talaga ang arrival natin pero ‘yon na nga may inaantay pa tayomg peak season last month ng taon,” he added.
He said Mayor Gerandy Danao has expressed support to the tourism program of the town.
He added they are finalizing the Sustainable Tourism Development Plan (STDP) for the next 10 years.
Corpuz said tourism regional director Danilo Intong said Narra is an emerging destination and sees the possibility of it becoming a “tourism municipality”.
“Sa tatlong levels ng tourism destination — una tourism destination, emerging destination at potential tourism destination. Ang Narra ay emerging tourist destination na hindi pa planado ang mga parameters. That’s why nacha- challenge kami ngayon kaya kailangan ng isang malaking government intervention na i-boost ang tourism industry dito sa Narra,” he added.
He added that all the municipalities in southern Palawan want to become tourist destinations with their battle cry “Let’s go down south Palawan”
There are 14 major attractions in the Narra that include countryside pools and private resorts Estrella Falls, San Isidro Hot Spring, Rasa Island, Mt. Victoria, Inuman Banog Falls (emerging tourist attraction), Crystal Paradise Resort, Arena Island, Maydavian Resort, Macapuno Beach Resort, Ednas Garden, Sarmiento Spring Fun Swimming Pool, El Roey Resort, La Vista Beach Resort and Sunrise.
