South Cotabato’s tourism industry continued to show strong visitor activity in the first half of 2026, recording nearly 1.1 million tourist arrivals from January to June despite disruptions caused by a major earthquake and landslides.
Based on data from the Provincial Government of South Cotabato’s Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Museum Unit, the province registered 981,683 same-day tourists and 117,023 overnight visitors, for a combined 1,098,706 tourist arrivals during the six-month period.
Lake Sebu emerged as the province’s leading destination for same-day visitors, welcoming 376,232 tourists. It was followed by Tupi with 226,218 and Surallah with 92,585.
For overnight stays, Koronadal City recorded the highest number at 47,460, followed by Lake Sebu with 44,119 and Surallah with 16,766.
Tourism activity, however, experienced a decline from May to June following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Southern Mindanao. Landslides and disruptions along transportation routes affected the movement of visitors and temporarily impacted tourism-related activities.
Despite the setback, the province maintained strong activity in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, recording 720 events during the first semester. May posted the highest monthly total, with 202 MICE events held across the province.
The figures underscore the important role of tourism in supporting local businesses, generating livelihood opportunities, and stimulating economic activity in communities across South Cotabato.
The provincial government emphasized that the continued growth and resilience of the tourism industry is driven by the collective efforts of local governments, tourism establishments, businesses, communities, stakeholders, and frontliners.
Under the continued leadership and support of Gov. Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., South Cotabato remains focused on further developing its tourism destinations and ensuring that the industry creates wider opportunities for communities throughout the province.
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