Sambawan Island in Maripipi, Biliran and the town of Liloan in Southern Leyte are both eyed as destination with high cruise tourism potential.
Sambawan island is located in about an hour by sea from Kawayan port. The island is a picturesque cluster of interconnected stony islets and grassed rock formations. It is a part of a marine sanctuary and a popular destination for divers and freedivers featuring an abundance of marine life – from live corals to turtles and reef sharks and very good underwater visibility.
Liloan town is the main gateways for tourists travelling from Mindanao to Eastern Visayas. It boasts some of the best beaches in Southern Leyte province and is home to Tagbak Marine Park, a prime destination for a variety of sea-related activities like swimming, snorkeling, diving, sea turtle watching, and wild duck watching.
While choosing new destinations to be added to cruise tourism map, DOT takes into account its authenticity, history and culture, as well as eagerness of the local government to cooperate.
Eastern Visayas has been welcoming cruise ships since 2013. The regular ports of call for cruise ships there include Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte, Capul Island in Northern Samar, and Cuatro Islas in the towns of Inopacan and Hindang in Leyte.
Eastern Vasayas May Get Two New Cruise Tourism Sites
News in Asia
The Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines is considering adding two new destinations in the Eastern Visayas to the country's cruise tourism sites map.