BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, Aklan, Philippines — Western Visayas has to strive harder in spurring the growth of its regional tourism industry, according to Atty. Helen Catalbas, regional director of the Department of Tourism in Region 6 (DOT-6). “We have what it takes, but we have not fully utilized our potentials,” she said, in a meeting here.

In the latest data of the National Tourism Development Plan, Western Visayas ranked fifth among 16 regional tourism clusters. It lagged behind Central Visayas, National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Davao.

Catalbas pointed out how the region only managed to rank fifth despite the fact that it boasts of the country’s most popular beach destination, that is, Boracay Island.

“This only shows that we should not rely on Boracay alone,” she reiterated while emphasizing that more than 45 percent of the region’s two million tourists in 2010 visited Boracay.

The regional DOTC officer said the potential and emerging destinations in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental must be harnessed.

Western Visayas, Catalbas pointed out, has everything to offer tourists including pristine beach destinations, inland resorts, recreation and adventure, heritage sites, and unique delicacies. “If we work together, we could reach the target of at least 10 percent increase of tourist arrivals this year,” she said.

Catalbas also pointed to the fact that tourism has contributed substantially to the region’s economy by bringing in P35.57 billion in 2010 alone.