International visitor arrivals increased 16.2 percent in the first two months of 2018 to 1.4 million from 1.21 million recorded in the same period in 2017, data from the Tourism Department show.
“For the first two months, we have already breached the 1.4 million tourist mark, another first in the history, and it is a good sign for the tourism industry,” said Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo.
Industry data showed that Chinese tourists accounted for 256,880 arrivals in the two-month period.
It was the most improved market with an impressive 56.44 -percent growth rate and the second largest market next to the Koreans at 354,700.
US visitors came in third with 193,985, followed by Japanese guests at 117,300 and Australian tourists at 50,404.
Completing the top 10 markets were Canada, with 48,191 visitors; Taiwan, 40,856; the United Kingdom, 33,554; Singapore, 28,117; Malaysia, 24,334; India, 23,064; and Hong Kong, 22,920.
“The record-breaking Chinese arrivals to the Philippines is a testament that we’ve become one of the top destinations for the Chinese market,” Teo said.
Data showed that in February alone, the industry received 673, 831 visitor arrivals.
“The warming relations between the Philippines and China plus the Chinese New Year seven-day holiday strengthen the platform for us to jumpstart our campaign of achieving 1.5 million Chinese arrivals for this year,” Teo said.
The Philippines ranked 9th among the top destinations for Chinese outbound tourists in 2017, according to TravelChinaGuide, a leading Chinese travel agency.
The 2018 Spring Festival Travel Forecast Report issued by Ctrip, China’s largest online travel provider, and the China Tourism Academy, listed the Philippines as the eighth popular Chinese travel destination during the Chinese New Year.
Teo said the continued rise in the number of foreign guests bodes well for the higher targets set by the department amid the controversy on the government’s plan to temporarily close Boracay.
“We welcome this increase in our arrivals as we brace for the possible effects of the Boracay rehabilitation. We remain optimistic that the ‘new’ Boracay after its beauty rest, will attract more tourists and help the industry break more records,” Teo said.
