China overtakes US as Philippines’ second largest arrivals source

Tourists going on the Underground River boat tour in Palawan, Philippines

China has overtaken US as second top feeder for the Philippines with 810,807 arrivals, comprising a 14.8 per cent market share.

South Korea remains the country’s top visitor market with 1.3 million arrivals, representing 24.3 per cent of the total arrivals, while the US is in third place with 785,269 (14.3 per cent) arrivals, Japan with 490,857 (nine per cent), and Australia with 206,443 (3.8 per cent).

Tourists going on the Underground River boat tour in Palawan, Philippines

Data released by the Department of Tourism (DoT) indicate there were a total of 5.5 million international arrivals for from January to October this year, an increase of 11.5 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

Compared to last year’s figures for the same period, Chinese arrivals jumped 39.3 per cent, while India visitors rose 20.3 per cent.

Total international visitor arrivals to the Philippines are on track to reach at least 6.5 million this year, the target set by the National Tourism Development Plan for 2017-2022.

In terms of revenue, visitor receipts recorded a double-digit gain of 36.3 per cent to 243.23 billion pesos (US$4.8 billion) for the period of January to September, a significant rise from the 178 billion pesos for the same period in 2016.

DoT secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo said: “The department will continue an aggressive marketing efforts, including through social media. We will promote emerging or developing destinations to entice more visitors from across the globe.”

As well, the DoT has launched the It’s More Fun in the Philippine Farms campaign, and revived the Bring Home A Friend programme as part of its strategy to hit 12 million tourists by 2022.

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