By Mike Crismundo  BUTUAN CITY - The impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) to the Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region tourism industry, particularly the Paradise Island of Siargao, “is only minimal”. This was disclosed by Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Mary Jean A. Camarin who said “tourist arrivals were not affected by the Coronavirus outbreak because more than 80 percent of the visitors were Europeans, Australians and Americans.” Most of the foreign visitors visiting Caraga region, particularly in the acknowledged world tourist destinations of Siargao Island, come from Australia, US, Canada, Germany and Japan, according to Camarin. “Only 28 percent of our market is from China, and this do not affect the continuous coming in and out of other foreign tourists even though we are helping our provincial government in securing other foreign and domestic tourists against the n-CoV scare,” Camarin told the Manila Bulletin. The official, however, admitted the arrival figures for the first quarter might decline “slightly”, but the tourism department is hoping that when the travel ban on China and its administrative regions is lifted, the number of foreign arrivals will increase anew. An estimated 200,000 tourist arrivals in that Pacific Ocean facing paradise island of Siargao alone was recorded in 2019. Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte's prime tourist destination, posted significant growth in tourist arrivals during the first six months in 2019. Tourist arrivals in Siargao posted a 32.85 percent growth rate during the period, or a total of 118,351 arrivals compared to 89,084 in 2018, Camarin said. Of the total number of arrivals in Siargao during the first half last year, 84,658 were domestic while 33,693 were foreign. The domestic arrivals posted a 39.16 percent increase and foreigners account for 20.22 percent. “Despite the n-CoV scare, our main concern also now is the health precautionary measures to our tourists, that why the provincial government of Surigao del Norte personally spearheaded by Gov. Francisco T. Matugas and province’s 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose “Bingo” F. Matugas are mobilizing all its resources for the safety and health concern of all their constituents and tourists in that province. “We are unified for the health concern of everybody,” she further said. Currently, the tourism department links with local government tourism officers, tourism associations, health department and enterprises providing them with the protocols and guidelines to ensure that precautionary measures are being instituted for the safety of locals and visitors.