DAVAO CITY – The upcoming 27th Siargao International Surfing Cup is expected to boost the tourism industry and brings other economic benefit to the island as the country still recovers from the onslaught of the two-year pandemic.
Ivonnie Dumadag, director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 13 (Caraga) said in a report published by the Philippine News Agency on Friday.
In a statement, Dumadag said “Looking back to its modest beginnings in 1992, the annual Siargao International Surfing Cup has proven to be a game changer in the tourism industry, not only in the province of Surigao del Norte but in the entire country as well.”
The statement was issued during the start of the registration for the upcoming sports event that will be held at the Cloud 9 Surfing Spot in General Luna town, Surigao del Norte, from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1.
The event, dubbed as Qualifying Series 3000, is sanctioned by the World Surf League.
Siargao’s annual surfing competition is considered the longest-running international sports tourism event in the country. The Siargao surfing spot has placed the island in the global surfing map.
The two-year pandemic and the onslaught of typhoon Odette had affected the annual competition. It was only last year when the annual event resumed.
The international event this year is organized by the Office of Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II and the General Luna town government, with the support of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Presidential son Vincent Marcos and the Tingog Party-list.
The upcoming event will also trigger the reopening of many hotels and tourism-related establishment which ceased to operate due to natural disasters.
