Southern Leyte (6 March) -- No less than Provincial Tourism Officer Nedgar Garves reported that local hotel and restaurant operators are now expanding their business areas in response to the growing demands for more accommodation throughout the province.

He confirmed that at least five hotels and restaurants constructed more rooms, others converting their ordinary house into villa-type pensions as encouraged by foreign tourists themselves, re-opening of restaurants and operating new beach hotels, among others, are indicators of brighter future for tourism industry in the province.

Tourism Officer Garvez released one hard copy of which was given to PIA, to bolster the province's claim that in all the six provinces of Region 8, Southern Leyte topped the recent list in the number of arrivals of both domestic and foreign tourists.

He disclosed that for Kinamot Restaurant based in Maasin City has expanded its services to cater the accommodation needs of the tourists and opened its three-story Villa Romana Hotel. And another Highway Restaurant in Padre Burgos has been back to operations under a new management of a retired US Marine, a constituent from the said town.

While at the eastern portion of the province, Las Vegas Beach Resort has started its operations last year to accommodate the sea lovers visiting the twin islands of San Pedro-San Pablo in Hinunangan. Another beach resort, the Amparaiso Beach Resort operating at Macrohon town also constructed more rooms to provide lodgings for the tourists.

He further reported that a big house built along the coastlines in Barangay San Jose in Sogod which is converted into Villa Catalina pension is now opened to serve tourists visiting the Sogod Bay Area.

Meanwhile, Garvez also reported the presence of three dive resorts in Padre Burgos and Macrohon municipalities were all operated by foreigners. In Padre Burgos, two dive sites namely, the Sogod Bay Dive Resort is managed by an English dive enthusiast and the Peter's Dive Resort is also run by an Australian businessman, while the Southern Leyte Dive is operated by a German diver. (PIA-Southern Leyte)