BUTUAN CITY, May 29 -- The 2026 Palarong Pambansa is bringing more than athletic competition to the Caraga Region; it is fueling a surge in local tourism, with Bislig City in Surigao del Sur emerging as a major beneficiary.

In a statement on Friday, the Bislig City government said 180 visitors, including athletes and coaches, flocked to Tinuy-an Falls, also known as the "Little Niagara of the Philippines," and to the Bislig Baywalk, one of the city's landmarks, on Thursday.

The tourists who arrived at the tourist spots came from across the country, including the National Capital Region, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Western Visayas, Negros Island Region and variou...