TACLOBAN CITY – For the first time in history, Samar province welcomed an international cruise ship excursion as 130 foreign tourists arrived aboard the Heritage Adventurer, marking a milestone in the province’s entry into the global cruise tourism map.
The guests—hailing from Australia, New Zealand, France, and other countries—are part of an expedition cruise organized by Heritage Expeditions Ltd., which has recently included Eastern Visayas among its cruise destinations.
Their visit featured a guided trek and birdwatching tour along the Paranas Eco-Trail, located within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) headquarters, followed by a stop at a privately owned two-hectare arboretum, where several rare and endemic tree species have been cultivated.
Guests were also treated to a taste of authentic Samar cuisine, prepared by local heritage cooks from the Secret Kitchen of Samar, and are expected to visit the Kandiwata Rock Formation in the island town of Daram.
“We consider this one for the books as it marks the first ever expedition cruise shore excursion in the province of Samar,” said Department of Tourism Region 8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes.
Tiopes noted that the cruise company itself chose Samar as part of its itinerary, highlighting the growing appeal of the island’s natural and cultural offerings.
“This cruise visit opened the door to Samar’s being part of the expedition cruise product portfolio of Eastern Visayas,” she added.
With the support of the provincial government, DOT-8 is now working to develop more shore excursion packages to enhance the province’s appeal to future international cruise operators.
Samar’s inclusion follows the footsteps of other Eastern Visayas destinations such as Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, and Northern Samar, which have already welcomed cruise ships in recent years.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
