THE Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that the country already breached its target of foreign tourist arrivals for the year with 4.8 million international visitors, according to Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
The DOT chief said that as of November 27, 2023, the country logged 4,822,530 million visitors, 91.88 percent of which, or 4,430,725 are foreign tourists and 8.12 percent or 391,805 are returning overseas Filipinos.
South Korea is still at the top of the pack with 1,271,602 tourists or 26.37 percent, followed by the USA with 797,181 (16.53 percent), Japan with 272,735 (5.66 percent), China with 242,107 (5.02 percent), and Australia with 225,464 (4.68 percent).
Frasco thanked President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s support, which she said has been very instrumental in translating the targets into achievements.
“We have now welcomed over 4.82 million international visitors, contributing an impressive P404 billion in foreign visitor receipts to date underscoring the value of tourism to our economy. As our President emphasized, tourism is a foundational pillar for the country’s inclusive growth and economic revival. Tourism continues to drive growth and provide income and jobs nationwide. With the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan 2023 to 2028 approved by President Marcos, we are beginning to see the merits of our strategies towards increasing connectivity, convenience, and equality in tourism development and promotions, as well as the invaluable partnership of our tourism stakeholders in the private sector,” the tourism chief said.
“I am happy to share with you the report of our national economic managers that manifests that Philippine tourism is the second highest driver of economic growth for the Philippines. This cements our position as one of the strongest pillars of the Philippine economy that employs no less than 5.35 million Filipinos in the tourism industry sector, ensuring jobs, livelihood, and the well-being of communities all over the country,” she added.
The liberalization of visa policies, the building of tourist rest areas, the establishment of the first ever multi-platform tourist call center, the construction of tourism roads, the development of cruise, education, medical, gastronomy, and sports tourism, expansion of dive tourism, and heritage and cultural tourism caravans and all other initiatives that have been lobbied by the DOT to attract visitors also contributed to these achievements, according to the Secretary.
(PHOTO CREDIT: DOT Facebook page)