DOT-7: January tourist arrivals in Cebu to hit 300K

Local

CEBU is expecting more than 300,000 tourist arrivals in January 2026.

Hotel occupancy is projected at 80 to 100 percent as the province enters one of its busiest months for travel and major international events, the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) said.

DOT-7 Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Gelena Asis-Dimpas said on Wednesday, Jan. 7, that January consistently posts the highest surge in arrivals, based on the agency’s historical monitoring of travel trends in the region.

“We are really focusing on January because this is where we usually see a significant increase in arrivals. This year, we are expecting more than 300,000 visitors for the month of January alone,” Asis-Dimpas said.

She clarified that the projected influx is not driven solely by the Sinulog festivities.

She noted that many balikbayans and foreign visitors

began arriving during the Christmas season and extended their stays through the end of January.

“This is not just because of Sinulog. Many of our balikbayans and tourists arrived as early as Christmas and stayed on until January. Tourism does not benefit just one sector, it supports the entire value chain, from hotels and airlines to transport and other service providers,” she said.

While final figures for 2025 arrivals have yet to be released, Asis-Dimpas said DOT-7 is projecting at least a 5 percent increase compared to last year’s January figures, which were placed at around 350,000 arrivals.

This year’s estimate could reach more than 400,000 visitors, she added.

“In fact, the five percent growth projection is very conservative. We are hosting the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026 here in Cebu, and for that event alone, we are expecting around 1,000 to 1,500 official delegates, excluding spouses and support staff. That gives us strong confidence that arrivals may go beyond our projections,” Asis-Dimpas said.

She identified the United States, including Hawaii, neighboring ASEAN countries, and Australia as among the top source markets for visitors.

She cited Cebu’s proximity to Southeast Asia and the expansion of air connectivity as key drivers of growth.

Asis-Dimpas said nearly 10 new international and domestic routes were inaugurated in the third and fourth quarters of 2025, contributing to increased passenger capacity heading into 2026.

“These additional flights give us more reasons to be optimistic for 2026,” she said.

Meanwhile, DOT-7 expects hotel and property occupancy across Cebu to range from 80 to as high as 100 percent throughout January.

Asis-Dimpas noted that while tourist numbers dipped in the last quarter of 2025 due to a series of natural calamities, booking data showed a steady recovery toward year-end.

“January is traditionally a peak month for us, and this year it is further boosted by major events like the ASEAN Tourism Forum,” she said.

The strong January outlook of Cebu follows a robust holiday performance for domestic tourism, with the province ranking among the country’s top destinations during the Christmas break, according to earlier DOT data.(TGP)