Surigao City, located in the Philippines, is quickly becoming a popular stop for international yacht cruisers. These are people from all over the world who travel the seas on their yachts and stop at Surigao City to take care of important things like immigration paperwork and resupplying their boats.
According to Roselyn Merlin, the city’s tourism officer, the tourism office started offering help to these cruisers last year. They let people know through a website called “Sail the Philippines” that they could get free assistance while in Surigao City. This is different from other places, where cruisers often have to deal with brokers who charge fees for services.
In 2023, 18 yachts from 12 different countries visited Surigao City. These yachts carried 113 cruisers, mostly from countries like Denmark, Switzerland, and France. The cruisers stay in the city for about three to five days, and sometimes even a week, to complete the immigration process and get the supplies they need, like food, fuel, and water.
The City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (CTCAO) helps the cruisers with everything they need, from paperwork to guiding them to places where they can get food and supplies. The visitors also enjoy the city’s bars, restaurants, and other attractions.
This year, two yachts from France arrived in Surigao City in early January, with a total of 20 cruisers from France and Denmark. The city government has already helped them with all their needs, and the cruisers are now ready to continue their journey after resupplying.
Merlin is hopeful that more cruisers will visit Surigao City this year, as the city continues to grow as a key stop for world travelers navigating the seas.
