RP tourist arrivals up 13 percent; Americans top list

Tourist arrivals in the country went up by 13 percent during the first quarter of the year, figures released by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

A total of 762,912 visited the country compared to 643,202 during the same period, with Americans still topping the list of visitors to the country’s prime tourist destinations.

The DOT said 149,511 tourists came from the United States, up by seven percent from last year’s 139,744 for the same period.

Americans make up 20.6 percent of the total visitor traffic, the department said.

South Koreans came in second, making up 19.9 percent of the total number of arrivals.

A total of 144,768 visited the country during the first three months of the year, up by 27.6 percent from the total 113,491 posted during the same period last year.

A total of 114,133 Japanese arrivals contributed 15.7 percent to the total visitor volume, putting them in third place. This was up by 9.3 percent as compared to 104,402 arrivals last year.

The Chinese market was in fourth place with 32,204 arrivals for a share of 4.4 percent to the total volume. The number of visitors jumped by 87.1 percent from 17,215 arrivals over a year ago.

Visitors from Taiwan made up 4.3 percent of the total inbound travelers. A total of 30, 939 visited the Philippines, virtually unchanged from 29,183 a year ago.

The rest of the tourism market came from Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, United Kingdom, Germany and Malaysia.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the local tourism industry continues to grow as a result of the DOT’s campaigns.

Due to the encouraging results of the first quarter of 2006, Durano pledged more intensified marketing efforts for tourism and further promotions and participation in international consumer events to ensure Philippine presence.

"The current increase of tourist arrivals in the country in the first and second quarter of this year is unprecedented. It has come to a point that our hotels can no longer accept the influx of travelers wishing to check in at their establishments due to lack of room accommodation," said Robert Dean Barbers, general manager and chief executive officer of the Philippine Tourism Authority.

"Moreover, our airline companies have been making additional local flights in order to meet the demand of passengers trying to reach their destinations. Tourism has never been so good as this year. I firmly believe that foreign investors are just observing and waiting for the right time to invest in our country," he said.