Oriental Mindoro is eyed as the next major cruise destination in the Philippines as a new cruise terminal is set to be developed on the shores of Puerto Galera.
To take advantage of Puerto Galera's status as one of the nation's top dive destinations, the Department of Tourism plans to build a hyperbaric chamber there and open its Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Bongabong in Oriental Mindoro by 2024. These plans prelude the “modern cruise port” expected to rise in the coastal town in 2025.
“We are expecting that perhaps by next year or 2025 magsisimula na ‘yong kanyang cruise port (the cruise port will be open),” the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 4-B (Mimaropa) officer-in-charge Director Roberto Alabado III said.
Cruise lines can provide their guests with cove-hopping tours, a short detour to the island's beautiful sand beaches and waterfalls, or an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in Oriental Mindoro culture through interactions with the people, according to Alabado.
“The attractions are there but we have to ensure the capacity, the accessibility. Because depending on the size of the cruise, it can range from just a few hundred to a few thousand,” he said. "These activities are already there and can already be easily developed into a world-class tour for tourists disembarking their cruise ships."
Boosting cruise tourism
In light of the nation's designation as the "Best Cruise Destination in Asia 2023" by the World Cruise Awards, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) announced its intentions to enhance the nation's ports further while adding more ports in some of the country's marquee tourist destinations.
“Kami po ay nagagalak at proud na finally nakakuha ang Pilipinas ng Best Cruise Destination Award na nagpapakita po ng pagkilala sa mga hakbang ng pamahalaan sa pangunguna po ng Department of Tourism (DOT) katulong po ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno gaya po ng Philippine Ports Authority,” said PPA General Manager Jay Santiago.
Currently, the Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Salomague in Ilocos Sur, Manila, Bohol, and El Nido in Palawan are among the ports managed by PPA that welcome cruise ships.
PPA's records as of September 2023 show that the organization has assisted 46,657 people who visited the ports on board ships since cruise tourism returned to the nation in February 2023.
Additionally, the organization intends to build cruise terminals in places like Coron, Palawan, Siargao, Camiguin, and Boracay.
