CURRIMAO, Ilocos Norte – Cruise arrivals in Ilocos Region continues to increase, with over 6,000 international passengers expected to arrive in the first two months of the year.
Senior tourism operations officer Araceli Salem of the Department of Tourism in Ilocos Region confirmed this Thursday, saying they welcomed around 527 passengers of MV Silver Dawn, a luxury cruise ship by Silversea Cruises, at the Currimao port on Thursday.
“Some passengers will visit Laoag City, Paoay, and Pinili in Ilocos Norte and the others in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur,” she said.
Salem said the cruise ship visited Singapore and Malaysia before heading to the Philippines.
Its first stop in the Philippines is Puerto Princesa on December 28, then Coron on Deceember 29, and Manila on December 30.
Ilocos Norte is its last port of call in the country before heading to China and Japan.
Based on cruise arrival data of the DOT Region 1, another cruise ship, Norwegian Sky, with around 2,405 passengers, have confirmed schedule on January 29 at the Port of Currimao.
On the next day, Silver Whisper, operated by Silversea Cruises, will arrive at the Salomague Port in Cabugao town, Ilocos Sur with 450-500 passengers.
Norwegian Sky will again return to the Port of Currimao on February 19 with 2,500 to 3,000 passengers, while Star Cruises is also expected to arrive at the Currimao Port on February 23.
In 2024, Ilocos Region welcomed four cruise lines at the Ports of Salomague, Currimao, and Hundred Island National Park, with a total of 4,865 passengers, higher than the 3,713 passengers in 2023.
With the increasing cruise arrivals in this northern gateway of Luzon, Agnes Asuncion, a seller of fruit and refreshments in Currimao, Ilocos Norte said she is always excited to bring her products at the Port of Currimao every time a cruise ship arrives because all her merchandise are sold out.
“The arrival of cruise passengers in our town is a big help to sustain our livelihood,” she said in an interview Thursday.
In partnership with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, organized micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province that are selling souvenir items and various food and non-food products display their products for arriving international visitors at the Port of Currimao.
Vans and buses for hire are likewise benefiting in the region’s booming cruise tourism industry since they provide transportation to the tourists.
“It’s a perfect way to start the year,” said Angel Lao, owner of Travel Ilocandia Tours and Travel, as her staff, including the number of tour guides, have grown in numbers since 2015.
With the influx of foreign tourists visiting Ilocos Norte, travel operators said they are in need of more tour guides to assist guests.
The Tourism Department also provides tour guiding seminars to help boost employment among the locals. (PNA)