The Department of Tourism (DTO) targets 4.8 million international tourists by 2023.
This after the Philippines recorded 2.46 million tourist arrivals as of December 19. Yet this is but a third of pre-pandemic tourist arrivals.
“We are optimistic that we will reach 2.5 million by end of the year. If this happens, then we would have about 30 percent of our pre-pandemic arrivals. A far cry from the 164,000 visitors that we received in 2021,” said DOT Secretary Christina Frasco.
In her yearend report, Frasco reported estimated tourism receipts as of November 20 stood at P149 billion.
The United States remained the top source market with 461,967, or 19 percent of total. This was followed by South Korea, 387,780; Australia, 122,971; Canada, 112,015; United Kingdom, 93,440; Japan, 91,557; Singapore, 50,964; India, 49,330; Malaysia, 44,357 and; Vietnam, 37,028.
The DOT attributed the increase in arrivals to the relaxation of border restrictions to foreign tourists last February 10.
Frasco said the numbers indicate Philippines tourism is “back in business.”
