US tourists up 5%

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday reported a five percent increase in the number of foreign tourists who visited the country from the US during the first month of the year despite the downgrading of the country’s aviation safety rating by the United States Federal Aviation Administration.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the number of American tourists reached 58,486 in January from the 55,632 American visitors recorded during the same period in 2007.

Durano said Americans account for almost 20 percent of the total number of arriving foreigners. – Mayen Jaymalin