CEBU CITY — Tourism statistics in Central Visayas should reflect how visitor spending benefits host communities, not just count arrivals, regional officials said during a Kapihan sa PIA forum on October 7, 2026. The event marked the 37th National Statistics Month under Proclamation No. 647.
A Theme Rooted in Discovery and Inclusion
This year's theme, "Tuklas Pilipinas: Statistics as Beacon Towards Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Tourism," emphasizes data's role in guiding community-centered development. Felixberto M. Sato Jr. of the PSA Cebu Provincial Statistical Office explained that "tuklas" means to discover, reflecting the country's thousands of islands and their unique offerings.
Sato said data works "like a lighthouse or a flashlight" that guides policymakers. Inclusive tourism ensures no one is left behind, as income reaches not only large establishments but also farmers, fisherfolk, and community-based businesses. Resilient tourism uses past disaster data to prepare mitigation programs.
From Arrival Counts to Community Impact
Renelyn P. Villegas Enriquez of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas stressed that the industry is no longer just counting visitors. "We are really checking if the numbers really benefit the communities," she said. Evidence-based data must back any claim about tourism performance.
Enriquez noted that tourism data helped identify workers affected by the September 30, 2025 earthquake and Typhoon Tino. This information supported the Emergency Cash Transfer for affected tourism workers and the Tourism Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan, demonstrating statistics' practical value during crises.
How Arrival Figures Are Gathered
DOT-7 collects administrative and survey data with the PSA. Regional arrival figures come from accommodation establishments reporting to municipal tourism offices, then provincial governments, and finally the regional office. A visitor staying at least one night counts as one arrival.
Central Visayas recorded 3.3 million arrivals from January to June 2026 based on preliminary figures. Final numbers are released around the third week of January. The Cebu Provincial Government's 1.08 million arrivals for January to August exclude highly urbanized cities, explaining the difference from regional reports.
Beyond Arrivals: Measuring What Matters
Enriquez urged the public to examine other indicators such as average length of stay. "The moment tourists extend their stay, the more they spend," she said. Data on attractions, purpose of visit, and visitor spending provide a fuller picture of tourism's economic impact.
The PSA's household survey on domestic visitors and tourism establishment survey cover these areas. Tourism cuts across accommodation, transportation, food service, and agritourism in the gross domestic product. The Tourism Satellite Account measures tourism's contribution, currently available only at the national level.
Building Statistical Capacity for the Future
The PSA introduced the Philippine Tourism Statistical Classification System during the NSM opening ceremony on October 1. This sets unified data standards across the tourism sector. Central Visayas posted double-digit growth in earlier years and single-digit growth in 2025, attributed to calamities and negative perceptions.
The PSA airs a podcast every Tuesday on Facebook, said Leslie Marie V. Zuazola of PSA-7. Information sessions and career forums for students in Cebu City and Talisay City promote statistics as a career. Sato asked households and establishments for full support in responding to surveys.
