TACLOBAN CITY — Despite an ongoing energy crisis that has slowed tourism activities, the provincial government of Eastern Samar is pushing forward with long-term plans to strengthen its tourism industry, building on last year’s momentum when the province recorded more than 630,000 tourist arrivals.
Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone reaffirmed this commitment during a recent courtesy visit by Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, where discussions focused on sustaining and expanding the province’s tourism potential.
Also present in the meeting was Provincial Tourism Officer Neil Alejandro Pinarok, as officials identified key destinations across Eastern Samar that could be further developed and promoted to position the province as a must-visit site in Eastern Visayas.
Evardone acknowledged that current efforts are largely centered on addressing power supply issues, which have temporarily hampered tourism-related initiatives. However, he stressed that tourism development remains a priority for the provincial government once the situation stabilizes.
“We are hopeful that once the situation stabilizes, Eastern Samar will steadily rise as one of the country’s emerging tourist destinations,” the governor said.
Tiopes, for her part, expressed optimism over the province’s prospects, particularly highlighting its rich marine biodiversity.
She noted that Eastern Samar has the potential to become a premier diving destination, comparable to Southern Leyte, which is known for its world-class underwater attractions.
While major tourism programs are currently on hold, provincial officials said groundwork is already being laid—from site identification to development planning—to ensure a smoother rollout of initiatives once energy concerns are resolved.
The provincial government remains confident that with sustained planning and national support, Eastern Samar can boost tourist arrivals further, generate more economic opportunities, and showcase its natural assets in the years ahead.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA, JOEY A. GABIETA)
