Tourist arrivals in Antique hit 1.3-M

 The old provincial capitol of Antique in San Jose Buenavista, now used as a proincial museum. (Photo By Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique — Tourists arrivals in the province of Antique have reached more than1.3 million with the town of Sebaste – and its two waterfalls- as the most visited site.

Ramlu Villaluna, Antique Provincial Tourism Officer, said an increasing number of tourists are lured by Antique’s attractions. This as evidenced by the tourist arrivals that reached 1,381,909 from January to October this year, compared to 448, 101 visitors to the province for the entire 2016.

Of the more than 1.3 million recorded visitors, 3,928 were foreigners and the rest were domestic tourists.

Sebaste, which drew 626, 283 tourist arrivals during the first 10 months of the year, leads the top 10 municipalities in terms of luring tourists. Others are the capital San Jose de Buenavista, and the towns of Pandan, Anini-y, Tibiao, San Remigio, Culasi, Belison, Tobias Fornier and Barbaza.

Sebaste in northern Antique province is known for the  Kalamasag Falls, Igpasungaw Falls, and Bugtong Bukid.

It is also well-known among pilgrims because of the miraculous St. Blaise Church.

Meanwhile, San Jose de Buenavista is popular because of ongoing commercial developments such as new shopping malls, business establishments, beach resorts and training centers.

The PHP40 million for the rehabilitation and improvement of the Malandog River, believed to be where the Bornean datus landed and established their first settlement, is also being promoted by San Jose de Buenavista to attract visitors.

Meanwhile, Pandan is endowed with Malumpati Cold Spring and Bugang River, said to be one of the cleanest rivers in the country.