PH records 8.26-M tourist arrivals for 2019
Credit to Author: Faye Almazan| Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2020 16:44:23 +0000
THE country’s tourism industry welcomed 8.26 million foreign visitors last year, a 15.24-percent increase from the 7.16 million arrivals recorded in 2018.
The figure is also marginally higher than Department of Tourism (DoT)’s 2019 target of 8.2 million, set in the National Tourism Development Plan for 2016 to 2022.
“This heralds a new milestone in the country’s tourism history, breaching the eight-millionth mark. Without doubt, our convergence programs with other government agencies, particularly in improving access as well as product development and marketing initiatives with local government and private sector have greatly paid off. These gains we hope to sustain even as we face global challenges,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.
South Koreans remained on top in the most number of tourist arrivals in the country, recording 1.989 million arrivals last year, a 22.48-percent increase from the 1.624 million in 2018.
China followed with 1.743 million, reflecting a whopping increase of 38.58 percent from the 1.257 million in 2018.
The United States placed third at 1.064 million, a 2.90-percent growth from 1.034 million, while Japan ranked fourth with 682,788, 8.07-percent better than the 2018 figure of 631,821.
Taiwan completed the top five, registering a 35.01-percent growth or 327,273 from 242,411 in 2018.
All months, except for January, registered a double-digit growth rate with August exhibiting the highest at 27.54 percent or 702,843 from 551,088 in 2018.
Meanwhile, the month of December recorded the highest tourist arrivals at 776,798.
“This is a high point for Philippine tourism as it depicts our solidarity and commitment to make tourism work and prove its full potential as a sustainable and inclusive economic activity. The record-breaking numbers solidify the effectiveness of the Tourism Act of 2009, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019,” Puyat added.
It continued with their “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign last year, alongside championing for sustainable tourism in the country.
The “Save Our Spots” movement became the industry’s battlecry to encourage visitors to become responsible tourists and do their part in preserving the country’s tourist spots.
The Philippines was also awarded a number of international travel awards in 2019, including the World’s Leading Dive Destination and Asia’s Leading Tourism Board at the 2019 World Travel Awards and Excellent Partner Award for sustainable efforts in the rehabilitated island of Boracay.