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Asia Philippines

Philippines: Whale shark interactions, more than 100 sites reopen to tourists

Dozens of destinations in Bicol region welcome visitors again after 2-year shutdown



MUST-SEE, MUST-DO: People swim with humongous whale sharks, the so-called "gentle giants" locally known as “butanding" off Donsol town, in Sorsogon province. It’s a nature-lovers' hangout which recently reopened to tourists in eastern Philippines. Butanding interactions are supervised by the World Wildlife Fund to make it sustainable. Interactions with the whale shark is seasonal, starting from around November to May, and is on the must-see-must-do list of most visitors to the region.
Image Credit: Screengrab

Sorsogon, Philippines: If you want to interact with humongous whale sharks, the season is open once more in Donsol town of the touristy Sorsogon province.

After a two-year slump due to COVID curbs, visitors are now welcome as travel restrictions had been lifted in Donsol and more than 100 other tourist sites across the Bicol region, according to local officials. Swimming with whale sharks, the so-called "gentle giants" of the open sea, forms part of the bucket list of most visitors to the province, about 600 km south-east of Manila.

Prior PCR test for inbound fully-vaccinated domestic visitors had been scrapped in the province, alongside dozens of destinations in the country, including the world-renowned Boracay island.

In-bound international travellers are still required to obtain a pre-departure negative PCT test result within 48 hours before departure. However, for fully-vaccinated international visitors and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), mandatory facilities-based quarantine rule has been scrapped.

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Tourism revival

The move is seen as key to the revival of the region’s tourism industry, a major job and revenue generator. Bicol, a region comprising six provinces east of Manila, boasts more than 104 tourism sites that had been flung open to visitors following two years of pandemic restrictions.

Together, the industry lost an estimated Php10 billion in the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A whale shark, or Rhincodon typus, also known in the Philippines as "Butanding". They can grow up to 41.5 ft — the size of 3 cars arranged end to end.
Image Credit: Agency

But with high rates of vaccination and the drop in new cases and virulence, the sectors is slowly coming back to life. Not all COVID safety protocols had been scrapped yet.

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Recently, health authorities downgraded the local COVID-19 alert status to Level 2 — which means indoor establishments are allowed to have a 50-percent capacity while outdoor areas may have a 70-percent capacity.

Attractions

Besides whaleshark interactions, Sorsogon is also known for its volcanic hot springs (in Irosin town), a pink-sand beach (in Matnog town), wave surfing (in Gubat), the Bulusan Lake and various eco-tourism sites.

Bobby Gigantone, chief of the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Office (SPTO), announced the reopening decision following a meeting between local health, tourism and government agencies.

Certain guidelines had been adopted in order to ensure the safety of both the tourists and locals.

GETTING THERE
Donsol, a town in southeast Luzon, is a World Wildlife Fund-supervised destination for interacting with whalesharks, or "butanding".

Donsol River, which feeds into Donsol Bay teems with plankton and krill. The whalesharks (locally known as butanding) return to Donsol each year from November to May to feed and breed.

Donsol, in the Philippine province of Sorsogon, is about 60 minutes by car from the Bicol International Airport, in Albay, also home to the majestic Mayon Volcano.
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Recovery

Tourism officials here are optimistic about the industry’s revival, following two years of hardship.

Data from Donsol Tourism Office (DTO) showed the pre-pandemic edition of the Butanding Festival in 2019 generated a total of Php448 million in gross revenues (about $9 million).

The DTO data also showed 13,000 tourist arrivals in the same year.

A deer farm in Sta. Cruz, Ocampo, Camarines Sur province in Bicol region, eastern Philippines.
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“With the permanent and temporary closure of tourist establishments such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, hundreds of millions in revenue were lost and hundreds of workers lost their jobs,” Gigantone said.

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Collaboration with WWF

The town's whale shark interaction project is a collaborative undertaking between the local government, the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, a joint commitment for a sustainable and balanced eco-tourism program.

Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero, in a statement, said the reopening of the sites would help the industry and community recover from a tough period.

Visitors enjoy the breath-taking view at the Farm Plate, which recently reopened in Gabawan, in Daraga town, in the Philippines' Albay province.
Image Credit: Facebook

The province will soon also open other tourist destinations, including the Bulusan Natural Park, Escudero said.

Department of Tourism director Herbie Aguas told the Philippine News Agency that the Bicol Region’s tourism industry lost an estimated Php10 billion (about $200 million) in the the last two years.

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Quad biking near the Mayon Volcano, in Albay Province, is a popular among visitors.
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He also said the pandemic taught some industry stakeholders to find alternative sources of income, such as engaging in agri-tourism.

Agri-tourism sites

Bicol currently has 16 farm sites that feature agricultural products, research and development, farm exhibits, and farmers' training.

Among the sites opened for tourist:

  • Hibiscus Trekker’s Camp in Tigaon, Camarines Sur
  • Inarihan Farm Resort in Naga City, Camarines Sur
  • LRV-Agri Science Far in Calabanga, Camarines Sur
MikeLiz Integrated Farm also in Calabanga, Camarines Sur
  • Sonrisa Farm in Magarao, Camarines Sur
  • AO Techno Science Park @ OADP at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture in Pili, Camarines Sur
  • Aguas Farm in Sto. Domingo, Albay
  • Farmer's Bounty Village in Camalig, Albay
  • Farm Plate in Gabawan, Daraga, Albay
  • Elmiro De Shei Integrated Farm in Camalig, Albay
  • Solong Eco Park and Tours in Camalig in Camalig, Albay
  • Villa Miranda Farm and Resorts in Libon, Albay
  • Quak Biking, Cagsawa Ruins, Albay
  • Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm in Bulusan, Sorsogon
  • Casa Eduardo Agri-farm Resort in Claveria, Masbate
  • Barcelona Agrihope Tourism Farm in Barcelona, Sorsogon
  • Uma Koinonia in Masbate City, Masbate
  • JSMS Organic Farm and Agribusiness in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte
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Quad bike trips near the picturesque Mayon Volcano (an active stratovolcano with recorded historical eruptions dating back to 1616) are often arranged in groups and with a trained guide.
Image Credit: Facebook
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