By Rachel Magday
NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya’s tourism sector continued to gain momentum, with overall visitor arrivals rising in 2025 and paying tourists increasing by 28.02 percent in the first quarter of 2026, the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office (PTCO) said.
Provincial Tourism Officer Marichelle O. Costales told Monday’s flag‑raising ceremony that total tourist arrivals in the province rose 10.2 percent in 2025 compared with 2024.
Day visitors and excursionists also rose by 5.4 percent, reflecting sustained interest in the province’s destinations and tourism activities, she said.
In the first quarter of 2026, visitors reached 10,478, up from 8,185 in the same period last year.
Costales thanked Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito for including tourism among his administration’s priority programs, saying the provincial government’s support has strengthened efforts to promote Nueva Vizcaya’s destinations and develop tourism-related initiatives.
Collections at the Lower Magat Eco‑Tourism Park (LMET) totaled P6.8 million in 2025, down from P9 million in 2024 — a 24.4-percent decrease, Costales said. She attributed the decline to the temporary closure of the LMET Conference Center after damage from Typhoon Uwan, and to reservation cancellations caused by road construction and heavy traffic along portions of the Maharlika Highway.
She said the conference center and other halls at LMET are among the park’s major income-generating facilities, making their temporary closure a significant factor in the decline in collections.
Costales, however, said the outlook remained positive, noting that LMET’s accommodations reached full occupancy during a recent long holiday weekend. This, she said, indicated the park’s strong potential to recover revenue once rehabilitation work is completed.
LMET remained Nueva Vizcaya’s top tourist attraction in 2025, drawing 37,284 visitors.
The province is also preparing to host next year the International Summit on the Conservation of the Gray-faced Buzzard, expected to draw birdwatchers and conservationists from Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Borneo.
Costales said the province is likewise promoting airsports, including paragliding, and supporting the reactivation of Bagabag Airport to expand tourism opportunities in Nueva Vizcaya.
