The Philippines’ tourism industry has generated some P245 billion in receipts from international visitors during the first six months of the year 2019, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The corresponding total receipts from the six-month arrivals increased by 17.57 percent from the half-year gross revenues in 2018.
Data provided by the DOT Statistics, Economic Analysis and Information Management Division (SEAMID) show the highest monthly receipts of P42 billion in the month of January.
For June 2019, spending reached an estimated P38 billion, which is 30.56 percent higher than the same month last year, while tourist per capita expenditure increased to $1,086.61 or 30.97 percent higher than June 2018.
So far, the DOT is keeping up with its target to attract high spending and longer staying tourists in the Philippines.
As proof that foreign guests truly find it more fun in the Philippines, DOT said average daily expenditure and average length of stay per tourist reached $120.60 and 9.01 nights, respectively, which is 28.64 percent and 1.81 percent higher than the same month last year.
This is based on the data from arrival and departure cards, shipping manifests, and visitor sample survey.
“These economic numbers are exciting but the real purpose [of the government’s hard work] is to push these numbers up year after year is for the Filipino people. Tourism in 2018 was responsible for 5.4 million jobs in 2018, contributing 12.7 percent or P2.2 trillion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” remarked Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
“At the end of the day, it is the number of lives changed for the better by tourism that would truly count,” she added.
Earlier, the DOT disclosed that 4.1 million foreigners have visited the country from January to June this year, indicating an 11.43 percent increase from 2018.
“We have already breached the 4 million mark within the first 6 months of the year. Seven years ago, it took the entire year to reach 4 million tourists. The Philippine tourism industry has indeed come a long way with better and increased connectivity. New, rehabilitated and expanded airports have contributed much to this growth,” she said.
“By expanding our portfolio of tourism products and by developing and promoting our lesser-known but emerging destinations, we have attracted a large yet diverse set of foreign travelers and have sustained our growth in the highly-competitive South East Asian region.”, she added.
For the month of June 2019, tourist arrivals reached a growth rate of 21.41 percent at 643,780 arrivals versus the 530,267 in June 2018.
South Korea continues to be the top source market with China coming in second. The
United States ranks third followed by Japan and then Taiwan, winding up the top 5 source markets.
The DOT also welcomed the US Homeland Security’s decision to lift its public notice on travel to NAIA following the “significant improvements” in the airports security operations.
“With the recent development of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to
rescind its Public Advisory on security issues at NAIA, we can expect more travelers from the US to visit the Philippines in the coming months,” remarked Puyat.
