DOT: Philippines Tourist Arrivals Grow 20.42% To Nearly 550,000 In February 2016

Tourist arrivals in the Philippines marked a double-digit growth of 20.42 percent to 549,725 visitors in February 2016 compared to the 456, 524 visitors in the same period last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Monday.

DOT attributed this surge to the government’s efforts to raise greater awareness among the international community and unlock investments in the Philippines’ emerging economy.

“The biggest change during this Administration is that we now have the Filipino people more enthusiastic about tourism itself,” DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said.

“We, as a country, believe that we can deliver an experience to tourists that is more fun because we allow visitors to take part in our joy. And the whole world is as convinced that more people should visit and revisit the Philippines,” he added.

The total number of inbound visitors recorded from the January to February 2016 period is already at 1,091,983, a 16.71 percent increase from the same period in 2015.

The country surpassed the one-million visitor arrivals in just two months.

Top visitor market was still Korea with around 284,763 visitors, accounting for 26.08 percent or more than one- fourth of the total arrivals.

Korea was followed by the United States with 155,796 visitors, representing 14.27 percent of the total arrivals, and China, with 130,916 visitors or 11.99 percent of the total arrivals.

Fourth top visitor market was Japan with 92,531 visitors, which accounts for 8.47 percent of the total arrivals, followed by Australia with 43,712 arrivals or four percent of the overall total.

Rounding up the top 10 visitor markets are Canada (36,773 arrivals); Taiwan (35,344 arrivals); Singapore (28,376 arrivals); the United Kingdom (28,238 arrivals); and Malaysia (23,990 arrivals).

The DOT chief also noted that the growth is also the work and effort of the Filipino people who have nurtured and sustained progress despite various political and economic challenges.

He said that the department has also established itself as “the country’s primary marketing and selling unit” by restoring confidence in the Philippines through a professional, well-planned, and well-supported tourism industry.

“While we have successfully ushered in an era of modern Philippine tourism, we believe this is just the beginning of a more promising future,” Jimenez further said.

As for receipts, DOT said that the Philippines acquired Php27.49 billion earnings in February 2016, a 42.09 percent growth from Php 19.35 billion in the same period last year.

The top spending market was still Korea with receipts amounting to Php12.92 billion, followed by USA with Php 2.87 billion, China with Php1.71 billion, Japan with Php 1.45 billion, and Australia with Php0.96 billion for the month of February 2016.

Meanwhile, the country acquired an Average Per Capita Expenditure of visitors at around Php49,221. The Average Daily Expenditure (ADE) was recorded at Php4,907, with the Average Length of Stay (ALoS) of visitors for the same month registered at approximately 10 nights. (PNA) SCS/ANP