Laguindingan Airport boosts Northern Mindanao tourism access

Insider Spotlight

• Laguindingan International Airport is strengthening its role as Northern Mindanao’s main tourism gateway.
• Operator Aboitiz InfraCapital is working with regional tourism planners to improve connectivity.
• Stakeholders are drafting strategies to expand tourism products, marketing, and sustainability efforts.
• Airport infrastructure is expected to support both domestic and international travel growth.
  
  
  

Laguindingan International Airport is positioning itself as a central driver of tourism growth in Northern Mindanao as airport operator Aboitiz InfraCapital Laguindingan Airport Corp. strengthens engagement with regional tourism planners.

The operator says improved air connectivity will help open the region’s destinations to more travelers, supporting local economies and expanding tourism opportunities across multiple provinces.

Why it matters

Northern Mindanao hosts a range of attractions—from eco-tourism sites and outdoor adventure destinations to culinary and cultural experiences and white sand beaches.

Stronger air access through Laguindingan International Airport is seen as critical to scaling these attractions for both domestic and international markets.

Airport representatives from Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports recently joined the Northern Mindanao Tourism Development Plan WriteShop, organized through a partnership between the Department of Tourism Region 10 and the Asian Institute of Management – Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism.

According to information shared in a company statement, the engagement reflects the airport operator’s effort to align infrastructure development with the region’s broader tourism strategy.

What they’re saying

“Air connectivity is a key enabler of tourism growth. By strengthening access to Northern Mindanao through Laguindingan International Airport, we help open the region to more travelers and opportunities while supporting local destinations and communities,” said AIC Airports head of strategy and communications Christine Villanueva.

Tourism officials emphasized that coordinated planning is needed to guide the sector’s long-term expansion.

“A clear tourism development plan is essential in guiding how Northern Mindanao can grow its tourism sector in a strategic and sustainable way,” said DOT Region 10 Director Marie Elaine S. Unchuan.

“It ensures that our destinations are developed responsibly, that communities benefit from tourism opportunities, and that stakeholders—from government to private sector partners—are aligned in a shared vision for the region,” said Unchuan. 

The big picture

The writeshop gathered government agencies, tourism stakeholders, and industry partners to craft strategies covering destination marketing, product development, sustainability initiatives, and stronger regional collaboration.

For airport operator ALAC, the continuing development of Laguindingan International Airport supports a broader vision: improving regional access while helping position Northern Mindanao as an emerging hub for tourism, business, and investment in the Philippines. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma