DESPITE the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) within the latter part of the first three months this year, Korean nationals continued to visit Cebu during the period.

Latest report from the Department of Tourism (DOT-7) revealed that Korean (nationals) arrival to Cebu for the first quarter this year, improved by 43 percent compared to the same period last year.

From January to March this year, there was a total of 18,118 Korean nationals visited Cebu despite the SARS outbreak which infected some part of Asian countries in later part of February this year, including Philippines.

The 18,118 Korean tourists visited Cebu in the first quarter this year is a 43 percent improvement compared to 12,593 Korean nationals visited Cebu in the first quarter of 2002.

A drop of 51 percent is noted in the arrivals of Hong Kong-based tourists for the first three months of this year. Hong Kong is one of the countries, which have been infected by the killer pneumonia.

Tourist arrivals to Cebu from United States and Canada also dropped by 19 percent and 30 percent respectively.

Meanwhile, the Japanese tourist arrival to Cebu has showed slight recovery with a 10 percent improvement over the same period last year.

DOT record showed that there were a total of 22,989 Japanese nationals visited Cebu during the first quarter this year, a slight improvement from 20,894 last year.

Because of the SARS epidemic travel agencies are temporarily shifting their marketing priorities, now more focused on the domestic tourist.

Hotel players earlier said that majority of their foreign guests are the Korean nationals.

Although Korean tourists are not big spenders compared to Japanese, tourism players said they are considered as the savior of the tourism industry, after Japanese tourists arrival to Cebu started to slow down since 2001.

Domestic arrivals to Cebu for the first quarter this year, increased by 1.22 percent to 143,102 travelers from domestic market visited Cebu during the quarter.

This figure is still expected to balloon in the coming months due to the active domestic traveling market, especially during the summer season.

DOT-7 regional director Patria Aurora Roa said Cebu and Bohol destinations have become the favorite summer hangout of the domestic market.

In fact, she said most resorts in Panglao Island in Bohol province are booked for the entire month of May.

Cebu-based hotels and resorts also posted 100 percent occupancy rate during the Holy Week last April, mostly occupied by domestic guests.