STILL NUMBER ONE 1: SOUTH KOREA REMAINS TOP SOURCE OF FOREIGN ARRIVALS FOR FIRST HALF OF 2024

The Embassy, with the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in Korea, continues to work with our tourism partners and local stakeholders to ensure that Koreans who travel to the Philippines have an enjoyable experience. This includes prioritizing every traveler's security and safety, their easy access to tourism destinations, and overall wellness.

The full press release on the Philippines' vibrant tourism industry can be seen below:

MANILA, PHILIPPINES. The Philippines' estimated visitor receipts ballooned to more than P280 billion in the first half of the year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported Thursday (July 11).

Based on its statistical monitoring report, tourism earnings from inbound visitors are currently pegged at PHP282.17 billion from January 1 to June 30, 2024, or approximately 32.81 percent higher than the PHP212.47 billion revenue from the same period last year.

"The significant increase in our tourism earnings to PHP282.17 billion in just the first half of 2024 is a testament to the relentless efforts of the Marcos administration in revitalizing our tourism sector. This 32.81 percent rise from last year's figures not only showcases the growing appeal of the Philippines as a premier travel destination but also underscores the tangible benefits that tourism brings to our economy and our people. The income generated through tourism directly translates to more opportunities and improved livelihoods for Filipinos, reinforcing the critical role this industry plays in our nation's progress," Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

Meanwhile, as of July 10, 2024, the country has welcomed 3,173,694 inbound tourists, of which 92.55 percent or 2,937,293 are foreigners while the remaining 7.45 percent or 236,401 are overseas Filipinos.

South Korea remains the Philippines' top source of foreign arrivals, delivering a solid 824,798 or 25.99 percent of the total number of visitors entering the country. The United States of America (USA) comes second with 522,667 (16.47 percent), followed by China with 199,939 (6.30 percent), Japan with 188,805 (5.95 percent), and Australia with 137,391 (4.33 percent).

Taiwan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and neighboring Southeast Asian nations, Singapore and Malaysia, are the sixth to tenth source markets, respectively.

"In the second half of the year, we anticipate these numbers to increase, not only the revenue generated but most importantly, the number of Filipinos employed in tourism-related industries. Many projects aimed at improving the country's connectivity and enhancing our visitors' convenience are also in the pipeline to sustain the good work we have started," the Secretary added.

The tourism chief is optimistic about furthering the gains of the industry as the 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts a "record-breaking" year for the Philippines' travel and tourism industry in terms of economic contribution, employment, and visitor spending.

According to the important global private sector group, the tourism sector's contribution to the national economy is expected to reach PHP5.4 trillion this year, or around 25 percent year-on-year growth, surpassing the record-breaking achievement in 2019 by 7.1 percent.

Employment in tourism is also projected to surpass 9.5 million jobs, translating to 20 percent of the national workforce.

The WTTC also forecasts that both international and domestic visitor spending is also set to break records this year, pegged at PHP715.6 billion and PHP3.7 trillion, respectively, exceeding 2019 levels by 5.7 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.

"This growth is testament to the government's efforts in enhancing tourism infrastructure, with efforts underway to upgrade regional airports to alleviate congestion at Manila's main airport and make travel more accessible," WTTC said in its report. END