PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The City Tourism Department here has reported a rise in tourist numbers for the year 2023, reaching nearly 529,000, according to preliminary data from the Department of Tourism.

Puerto Princesa tourism chief Demetrio Alvior Jr. said Monday that this figure represents a substantial leap from the previous year's statistics of nearly 300,000.

He said that the current count could still rise as not all data has been encoded, emphasizing that the increase is in the range of 70-80% compared to 2022's numbers.

Alvior specified that these statistics account for visitors who spent at least one night in Puerto Princesa, excluding transient tourists from cruise ships or those just passing through.

Puerto Princesa maintains its status as a top destination in the Mimaropa region, with attractions like El Nido, Coron, Brooke's Point, and Linapacan contributing to its popularity. Alvior said that more than five of the region's top attractions are located within Palawan.

"Just like last year, this applies to the entire Mimaropa region, not just Palawan," he stated.

He also mentioned Puerto Princesa's effective tourism accreditation system under the city's Standard Division, which ranks highest in the Mimaropa region for compliance with DOT standards and processes.

According to Alvior, other local government units have expressed their admiration for Puerto Princesa's quick recovery following the pandemic and Typhoon Odette.

"I've spoken with many local government units elsewhere, and they're envious of Puerto Princesa's swift recovery from the pandemic and Typhoon Odette," he said.

He attributed this tourism resurgence to collaborative efforts among various stakeholders in the industry and emphasized the importance of sustaining and enhancing these achievements.

Under Mayor Lucilo Bayron's leadership, Puerto Princesa is focusing on developing MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism. He explained that MICE tourism brings substantial economic benefits through corporate spending on venues, accommodations, dining, and transportation, exceeding leisure travel expenses.