The Philippines has already received over two million international visitors this month, the Department of Tourism (DoT) reported on April 24.
The country’s tourism receipts from January 1 to March 31 also reached around 157.62 billion pesos (US$2.73 billion), an estimated 120.70 per cent recovery rate from the 130.59 billion pesos revenue gained from the same period in 2019 or the milestone year for Philippine tourism before the global lockdowns and industry standstill.
Based on DoT’s monitoring data, as of April 24, 2024, a total of 2,010,522 international visitors entered the country, with 94.21 per cent (1,894,076) of the country’s total international arrivals delivered by foreign tourists, while 5.79 per cent (116,446) are overseas Filipinos. This is 15.11 per cent higher than the international arrivals recorded in the same period last year pegged at 1,746,630.
South Korea maintains its spot as the Philippines’ top source market in terms of inbound visitor arrivals with 27.19 per cent (546,726), followed by the US at 15.71 per cent (315,816), China with 6.49 per cent (130,574), Japan with 6.13 per cent (123,204), and Australia with 4.38 per cent (88,048). Ranking from sixth to tenth are Canada, Taiwan, the UK, Singapore, and Germany, respectively.
The country is targeting to welcome 7.7 million international visitors this year, near its pre-pandemic record-breaking achievement in 2019 which ended with an estimated 8.26 million inbound visitor arrivals.
“The Department of Tourism sees a positive trajectory for the country’s international tourist arrivals this year. We are hopeful that with more investments in tourism infrastructure as well as much needed increase in connectivity as well as improvements in air, land, and sea infrastructure and accessibility, the numbers can further increase,” commented tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
Buoyed by a strong 2023, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company, looks forward to continued growth across Asia-Pacific for the year ahead. 
A veteran global hotel executive with deep experience in Hong Kong, Girard has an extensive hospitality career, including over three decades in leadership positions at Hong Kong hotels, most recently as area general manager and vice president of development at Regal Hotels International where he managed the 1,200-room Regal Airport Hotel.
Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has launched its innovative digital platform, the Travel Companion, powered by advanced artificial intelligence, as part of a two-year plan to revolutionise the travel industry by embracing digital innovations.
In collaboration with global professional services firm Accenture, Saudia’s Travel Companion is set to change how travellers interact with the airline and redefine the standards of digital travel.
With the goal of becoming the go-to platform for various services beyond flight bookings, the Travel Companion offers personalised and tailored solutions to meet individual preferences and needs, providing search results from trusted and authenticated sources and utilises image-supported responses.
The platform is intended to be a comprehensive, one-stop solution that allows users to book concierge services such as hotels, transportation, restaurants, activities, and attractions, eliminating the need to switch between multiple platforms. Additionally, it establishes seamless connections with transportation platforms and various train companies, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted journey.
Currently in its beta version, Saudia will introduce additional features, such as voice command and digital payment solutions in the next stages. Through an always-on Travel Companion accessible via an e-SIM card enabled by Saudia, users can enjoy global access without relying on other internet providers.
Furthermore, users can purchase data packages for additional applications, ensuring continuous access to the platform’s services.