Camiguin prepares for tourism growth with sustainable island governance

Camiguin is pursuing sustainable island governance to protect the destination over the long term and spread economic benefits across communities as it prepares for a projected increase in tourist arrivals.

The island is projecting annual arrivals to more than double to 824,000 from 2028, compared with 397,818 last year and 288,558 in 2024. Foreign visitors are targeted to account for 15 per cent of arrivals, up from six per cent currently.

Camiguin governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo said the projected growth would require the province to prepare its infrastructure and services for increased demand.

“These figures show opportunity” and “raises the need to prepare transport, water supply, accommodation, public services and tourism sites for the additional demand”, he said at the recent Camiguin Roundtable Discussion on Sustainable Island Destination Governance 2026.

Rather than focusing on visitor volume alone, Romualdo said the Camiguin Tourism Action Plan 2025-2028 is based on the principles of “more value, less pressure, stronger stewardship”.

“More value should mean better opportunities for the people, more tourism spending means reaching local livelihoods; less pressure should mean managing growth in line with the capacity of our resources, services and communities; stronger stewardship should mean clear responsibilities and sustained care for the island.”

Tourism consultant Cherry Lyn Rodolfo agreed that managing growth was particularly important for island destinations.

She pointed to the constraints faced by island destinations, including finite water and other natural resources, limited carrying capacity, vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather, waste and wastewater challenges, fragile ecosystems and susceptible communities.

Rodolfo said Camiguin is already applying the internationally recognised VICE model for sustainable tourism by balancing the needs of four stakeholders: visitors, industry, community and environment.

The airport runway is being expanded to improve access to the island, while more rooms will be added to the current 170 tourism establishments, which offer a combined 1,312 rooms.