Foreign Tourist Arrivals Hit Record High in July 2015

(PNA) — Foreign tourist arrivals in the country hit record high in July this year, Department of Tourism said on Thursday.

DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. told reporters in the sidelines of the 3rd Philippine Tourism Forum said that July 2015 figures nearly reached 500,000 in July.

“For the first time in history, (July figures) reached 498,000 visitors,” Jimenez said, noting that this was only a ballpark figure.

DOT earlier said that the country yielded 390,486 foreign tourist arrivals in June 2015.

The agency, meanwhile, said it expected a spike in foreign tourist arrivals toward the later months of the year, especially during the start of its peak season this month.

Jimenez also remained optimistic that its proposed 2016 budget of Php 3.61 billion would be approved by the Congress.

DOT’s proposed budget is 44 percent higher than the Php 2.5 billion it received under this year’s approved appropriations. (PNA) RMA/ANP