Historical evolution of festivals in Guimaras Island, Philippines: its implication to tourism industry growth

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the different festivals in Guimaras and their significant contributions to the tourism industry through a qualitative-quantitative research design. The data were gathered from the people in the tourism industry in the province of Guimaras and in five municipalities in the province for the past five years using focused group discussion. Result of the study showed that there were festivals in the provincial, municipal and barangay levels. It also revealed that festivals in this island province contributed to its visitors' arrival. Thus, tremendous increase in the number of local excursionists which ranked first is noted for the past five years. Local tourists ranked second, foreign excursionist ranked third and foreign tourists ranked fourth. When monthly arrivals are taken into consideration, the month of May ranked first, March ranked second, and April ranked third. Another contribution of festivals in the province was evident in its notably increasing agri-trade and tourism fair sales for the past five years.