MANILA, Philippines — The Manila city government saw a surge of tourists visiting the city last year.
The country’s capital city welcomed a total of 14,262,621 visitors in 2023, according to data from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila (DTCAM).
Among the tourist attractions managed by the city government, the Kartilya ng Katipunan Shrine beside city hall received the most tourists with 1,091,150. The Manila Zoo follows with 661,059 tourists and Manila Clock Tower Museum with 5,864. The DTCAM noted, though, that zoo management has yet to provide figures from October to December 2023.
The sites were renovated and opened during the term of former mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso.
Rizal Park, which is managed by the National Parks Development Committee, attracted the most tourists with 5,736,180. The committee also manages Paco Park in Manila.
At Intramuros, 11 attractions under the Intramuros Administration – Casa Manila, Baluarte de San Diego, Museo de Intramuros, Fort Santiago, Plaza San Luis, Puerta Real Gardens, Plaza Roma, Plazuela de Sta. Isabel, ASEAN Garden, Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church – were visited by tourists with 1,371,854 of them visiting the Manila Cathedral.
Additionally, the National Museum of Fine Arts was the most visited among the three museums – National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Natural History – operated by the National Museum of the Philippines with 695,997.
Also, Bahay Nakpil logged 336 visitors while the Chinatown Museum had 14,307 tourists.
The 2023 total figure of tourists in Manila at over 14.2 million was higher than the 8,606,443 recorded by DTCAM in 2022. Last year’s record does not include data from the city’s hotels and restaurants as well as those from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the office noted.
Visitors from other parts of the Philippines topped the statistics, followed by foreigners and Manila residents.
A majority of foreigners visiting Manila were Asians like Chinese and Koreans, according to DTCAM director Charlie Duñgo.
He added that Manila is no longer considered a layover zone as tourists, particularly foreigners, chose to spend a night or two in the capital and stroll around.
Duñgo said that the DTCAM aims to make districts like Binondo, Quiapo and Divisoria become more appealing to tourists.
Binondo is already a famous destination for foodies or those who want to try Chinese-Filipino food, he told The STAR.