Tourist arrivals top 3 M in 8 mos

MANILA, Philippines - International visitor arrivals continued on a record streak this year, growing 11.8 percent in the first eight months to 3.18 million from 2.85 million in the same period last year, data released by the Department of Tourism showed.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said the eight-month tourist arrivals marked another milestone as it is the first time that foreign visitors achieved the three-million figure in August.

He said the 3.18 million figure represents 57.83 percent of the targeted 5.5 million arrivals for 2013.

Last year, the country received its three-millionth visitor in September while in 2011, it reached the three million arrivals in October.

Koreans remained the top group of international tourists with 822,128 visitors which represented 21.06 percent of total arrivals.

The DOT chief said they expect the Korean market to remain a strong source of international tourist movement until the end of the year.

Despite posting minimal growth in arrivals, the United States still remained as the second biggest source of tourists for the country with a 2.49 percent growth or 457,819 visitors, comprising 14.39 percent of the entire inbound traffic.

The Japanese market regained its place as the third largest source of foreign arrivals, capturing 9.23 percent of total tourists or 293,445 visitors.

China, which climbed up to third place in July, went back to fourth place with 288,826 visitors or 9.08 percent of total visitor volume.

Touris arrivals… From B-9

The Chinese market, however, recorded the highest increase in tourist arrivals among the top five markets with a 60.57 percent growth from last year and posted a 206.43 percent growth in August alone.

The fifth biggest volume of arrivals was supplied by Australia with 131,977 arrivals and a share of 4.15 percent to total.

This market recorded a double-digit growth or 15.11 percent vis-à-vis its arrivals of 118,050 for the same period last year.

Rounding up the top 10 visitor markets are Singapore with 114,018 arrivals, Taiwan with 103,306 arrivals, Hong Kong with 86,396 arrivals, Canada with 84,353 arrivals and United Kingdom with 80,121 arrivals.

On the other hand, the following markets recorded significant gains: Saudi Arabia (+35.12 percent) with 27,094 arrivals; Russian Federation (+32.53 percent) with 21,736 arrivals; Indonesia (+28.63 percent) with 30,319 arrivals; France (+18.45 percent) with 27, 380 arrivals; Thailand (+17.85 percent) with 31,638 arrivals; and India (+15.01 percent) with 35,173 arrivals.

By 2015, DOT expects international tourist arrivals to reach eight million, representing 7.8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Jimenez said with the consolidation of the ASEAN economies in the two years time, the Philippines would try to contribute by offering its training services.

“To begin with, we are one of training grounds in the region,” he said.

The Philippines, he said, is also one of the countries pushing for greater openness in terms of visa regulation.

For 2013, total tourism receipts, the money spent by foreign visitors in traveling to the country, is expected to hit P1.5 trillion from P1.1 trillion in 2012. This level is seen to further increase to P1.67 trillion in 2014; P1.95 trillion in 2015; and P2.3 trillion in 2016.

By the end of the Aquino administration in 2016, foreign tourist arrivals are expected to hit 10 million.