Rising fuel prices failed to deter Negrenses and tourists who flocked to the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia and the beaches of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental, for the Holy Week break.
The Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia, Negros Occidental, had close to 7,000 guests from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Monday, April 6.
The bulk of the guests, 2,416, visited on Easter Sunday. The resort was so full some guests picnicked under trees for shades as all the picnic huts were occupied, Diaz said.
The resort’s guests on Maunday Thursday were 1,420 , Good Friday – 1,377 and Black Saturday – 1,759.
The resort, located about 45 minutes from Bacolod City, is owned by the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Mambukal is renowned for its seven-tiered waterfalls, nature trails, hot sulfur spring dipping pools, Japanese-inspired ofuro baths, and boating lagoon.
Surrounded by lush forests, the sanctuary offers visitors a refreshing mountain breeze.
SIPALAY TOURISTS Despite rising fuel costs, tourist arrivals in Sipalay City remained steady during the Holy Week, Sipalay Tourism Officer Jeck Lacson also said Monday.
Sipalay, located about 175 kilometers south of Bacolod City, is renowned for its white sand beaches and crystal-clear dive spots. “Actually, we expected the count to be low because of the increase in fuel prices, but we were somewhat surprised that many people still traveled to Sipalay this Holy Week,” Lacson said.
From Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, Sipalay recorded an estimated 3,500 to 4,000 overnight tourists and 5,000 to 6,000 day visitors daily.
Lacson said that many visitors opted for local destinations to save on travel expenses.
“We spoke with some people who said that instead of going out of the province or Negros Island, they chose to travel to Sipalay because it is closer and within the island,” he said.
While arrivals did not see a significant spike compared to the previous year, the numbers remained relatively the same, Lacson said.
“Despite the ongoing oil crisis, we are pleased to see that tourists continue to flock to Sipalay. We observed that many Negrenses from both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental chose Sipalay as a more practical and accessible option amid rising travel costs,” he said.*
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