PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro: Local and foreign tourists have started showing up in this popular summer destination on Monday for the Holy Week break as local officials and resort owners assured that the coastal town is ready to accommodate the arriving visitors.

Municipal administrator Carmela Datinguinoo said that Puerto Galera is expecting 16,000 to 20,000 visitors this week, the bulk of which will start arriving on Wednesday.

"We are expecting the numbers of tourists will exceed last year's arrivals that were placed at 15,000 tourists, local and foreign. We have coordinated with business establishments to prepare for the arrivals. We have concerts scheduled in White Beach in Barangay San Isidro and other events in several destinations," Datinguinoo said.

Datinguinoo also noted the increase in tourist arrivals last month, most of whom came for the mating season of whale sharks.

The municipal administration, meanwhile, asked tourists to bear with the little inconvenience at the entry ports as the local government is implementing a strict border control.

"Tourists coming from outside of Mindoro island are required to present a booking confirmation from resorts to ensure their safety. Local tourists are also required to present valid IDs as proof of residence within Mindoro," she said.

Tourism consultant on marketing and promotion Emmanuel Lineses, meanwhile, said that a P120 environmental user's fee will also be charged.

Lineses, however, assured tourists that they will have a grand time on the island.

"We want a grandiose welcome for our tourists and the local government has prepared various activities," he said.

"We also constructed several infrastructure that would make the stay of tourists memorable. Since last year, we have had a night market every weekend at the Muelle Port in Barangay Poblacion showcasing local and foreign delicacies."

Business establishments at Puerto Galera were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Resort owners started to recover in the latter part of 2022.

In 2023, a concert of a local artist gathered a record crowd of 15,000 at the White Beach which exemplified the total recovery of the local tourism industry.