BUTUAN CITY – The tourism industry in the Caraga Region is vigorously picking up as influx of tourists, both domestic and foreign, is noted at various tourist spots in the region, tourism officials said Tuesday.

However, officials of the Department of Tourism (DoT) said that local government units (LGUs) have a vital role to play in “strengthening the tourism industry” in their respective tourism destinations.

“Many potential tourism areas already exist and these tourism spots must be developed,” said Northeastern Mindanao Tourism Regional Director Letty Tan.

She said records of tourist arrivals before the observance of “All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day” is very high compared to previous years.

She said Caraga Region has 499 breathtaking tourism sites. Among these are the 102 hectares of beaches, 72 waterfalls, 45 caves, and 32 lakes spread at various cities and provinces in the area.

Some of these include the Magkawas Falls in Lanuza town, Surigao del Sur, the Malinawa Cool Spring in Cantilan town, also of that same province and the Pansukian in General Luna, Siargao Island, in Surigao del Norte.

However, exciting places where tourists are continuously mushrooming are the famous surfing and fishing capital on Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte and the more than 40,000 hectares Agusan Marsh in Agusan del Sur.

The tourism agency under the leadership of Tourism Secretary and Caraga’s Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) Ace Durano is encouraging the local officials to continue helping develop these “very potential tourism areas,” said Tan.

Tourism authorities assured Butuanons and Caraganons of a tourism development priority in the country.

Tan appealed to the governors and mayors in the region to continue developing their identified tourism areas, “because tourism is one of your major industries in the Caraga Region.”

It was noted that this city, the provinces of Agusan and Surigao are among the latest additions to the beautiful regions of the country that are being given top priority under DoT’s tourism development program.

The tourism officials in the region challenged the LGUs to “work hand-in-hand in achieving the goal to make this region one of the tourism destinations in the country today.”

“Everybody should work together so that services will surely be delivered for the development of the region,” added Tan.

She also said that the tourism industry in the region also posted improved income and employment generation, in line with the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).