The Sorsogon government, through its Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office, said tourism arrivals in the province more than doubled in 2024 compared to 2023.

Bobby Gigantone, Sorsogon tourism officer, said arrivals went up by 137.91 percent to 2.86 million tourists last year from 1.2 million in 2023.

Gigantone said that of the total, 2.73 million were domestic tourists and 135,712 being foreign tourists.

He said the recorded growth in tourist arrivals reflected the increasing appeal of the province to both domestic and international tourists.

"This growth is a testament to the province’s substantial investments and dedicated efforts in enhancing its tourism industry. Under the Governor Edwin Hamor demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the tourism sector through strategic promotion and marketing efforts," he said.

Gigantone said the provincial government, along with the 14 local government units and one component city, significantly contributed to positioning the province as a premier tourist destination in Bicol.

He added tourist gross receipts for domestic tourists reached P274 million, while foreign tourists contributed P13.3 million, which helped buoy the local economy.

Local tourism also generated 465,888 jobs, giving direct and indirect employment opportunities across the province.

Gigantone said the milestones showed the province's, LGUs' and stakeholders' collective and sustained tourism efforts to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable tourism industry.

He added the province remains steadfast in its vision of becoming a premier tourism destination and a model for sustainable tourism development in the Philippines.

Some of the well-known tourist attractions and activities in Sorsogon are the whale-shark interaction in Donsol, white beaches, mangrove forests, surfing, hot springs, ancestral houses, and the Bulusan Lake.

PNA PHOTO