The province of Misamis Oriental will explore potential tourism sites that are sustainable and resilient amid economic and environmental challenges.

In an interview on Monday, Misamis Oriental information officer Joane Jude Tabique said six sites are under assessment and development this year and could generate additional economic activities.

She said these include the proposed Mangrove Ecopark in Barangay Taytay, El Salvador City, and the improvement of the Indigenous Peoples Village in Balingasag.

The province currently has six other tourism-related projects, among them the planned South Korea chartered flights following a visit from a delegation of diplomats and investors.

Between 2020 and 2025, tourist visitors in Misamis Oriental increased from 607,319 to 5.7 million. From January to August 2026, arrivals reached nearly 2.5 million.

Tourist arrivals increased by 9.6 percent in 2025, generating PHP285 million in indirect tourism income.

Top visitors in the province are from the United States, South Korea, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Data from the Provincial Tourism Office also showed that in 2025, the Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador City led domestic arrivals with 707,812 visitors, while recording 2,965 foreign visitors.

As of August 2026, the province has 58 establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Employment in accredited establishments, meanwhile, increased from 596 in 2024 to 735 in 2025, and remainex strong at 729 in 2026. (PNA)