BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Tourism (DOT)-Caraga geared up efforts to promote the tourism industry in Caraga region and make its tourist destinations known to travelers around the world through its new campaign for domestic tourism.

With its new tagline "Caraga Na!", DOT-Caraga regional director Nelia Arina emphasized that tourists could still explore the picturesque destinations in Caraga Region while keeping their safety in mind. 

“This is the department's way of promoting domestic tourism in the region. We would like to promote safe travels while we have in mind implementing the health and safety protocols to stop and prevent the spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19),” bared Arina.

Director Arina is optimistic that tourism in Caraga will continue to flourish amid the pandemic.

She stressed that various sectors and organizations continue to conduct disaster response and tourism recovery interventions in the affected areas including Siargao Island.

DOT-Caraga further assured that necessary assistance for the affected workers in the tourism sector will continue until they can get back to their usual functions and regular operations. 

"This is actually a neologism of the word 'gana' which means nice, great or equivalently described as appetizing in the local dialect. So, the “Caraga Na!” would mean picturesque tourist destinations in our region, and that we offer a lot of very adventurous activities, adrenaline-pumping activities," added Junesther Jean Valdez, tourism operations officer of DOT-Caraga.

It is also expected that through "Caraga Na!", more tourists will visit the region, more investments will pour in, and increase the employment rate in the tourism sector. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)