PHL tourist arrivals up 17% to 2.6 million in 10 months
Tourist arrivals in the Philippines from January to October this year reached 2,562,505, an increase of 17 percent from 2,190,114 tourists registered during the same period last year.
Bureau of Immigration Officer-in-Charge Ronaldo Ledesma said the increase in tourist arrivals only indicates that the spate of negative travel advisories by at least six countries calling on their citizens to avoid visiting the Philippines, failed to prevent foreigners to visit a country tagged as a “favorite tourist and investment destination in Asia.”
Countries that issued travel advisories against the Philippines include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and France. Japan issued its own travel advisory against the Philippines, but focused on reminding its citizens to take precautions to avoid becoming victims of criminals in the country.
With the higher tourists arrival during the 10-month period, Ledesma said, the BI is confident the Philippines could hit its target of at least three million tourists end of this year, saying that tourist arrivals normally pick up within the last two months of each year.
He said in October alone, some 239,465 tourists arrived in the country, showing an increase of almost 19,000 visitors compared to the 220,572 visitors registered last September.
”Of the 2,562,505 tourists that visited the country from January to October, 679,406 were Americans, followed by 525,564 Koreans, and 331,156 Japanese,” Ledesma said.
Other frequent visitors include 229,989 Chinese, 140,238 Australians, 116,175 Canadians, 113,041 Britons, 99,465 Taiwanese, 70,107 Malaysians, and 66,336 Singaporeans.
Ledesma said increase in tourists arrivals is a positive sign the country is succeeding in its effort to promote the Philippines as a prime tourist and investment destination in Southeast Asia.
”The increase in tourist arrivals signifies the strong confidence of the international community in the Aquino administration,” he stressed, adding the bureau is determined to pursue programs that make it easier for foreign businessmen, tourists and students to come to the country, and engage in business activities.*PNA
