Tourism in Pangasinan continues to thrive, with the province recording 8.7 million day tourists and 430,983 overnight visitors in 2024, reaching pre-pandemic levels, a provincial tourism official said Friday.

Maria Luisa Amor-Elduayan, head of the Pangasinan Provincial Tourism and Cultural Office, said in an interview that high tourism records peaked during summer and December.

“We have already met the pre-Covid statistics. Before 2019, tourism in the province was already flourishing and it was increasing year by year,” Elduayan said.

Tourism peaked in December with 1.3 million visitors, followed by May with 900,000 arrivals.

Top destinations included Manaoag, Bolinao, Lingayen, and Alaminos City, along with coastal areas in Western Pangasinan.

Manaoag, home to the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, saw an 11 percent increase in visitors, reaching 5.78 million.

Of these, 5.73 million visited the basilica alone. Other attractions included Virgin’s Well (23,098 visitors), Amber’s Paradise (20,651), One Alo Resort (8,011), and Baba’s Eco Farm (786).

Bolinao reported a 17 percent increase in tourist arrivals, reaching 744,430, with 511,846 day tourists and 232,584 overnight visitors.

Most of the visitors came from Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).

The town’s peak month was April as visitors explored its beaches, waterfalls, caves, and rock formations.

Meanwhile, Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos saw a 12 percent drop in tourist arrivals due to weather disturbances since September.

However, new facilities such as a chapel, museum, and retreat hall on Ramos Island are set to open soon, enhancing the park’s appeal.

Elduayan credited systematized data collection and LGU-backed tourism officers for improved tourism planning and marketing. (PNA)