Tourist arrivals up 9.8% in 8 months

MANILA, Philippines - International tourist arrivals went up 9.87 percent to 3.590 million in the first eight months from 3.267 million in the same period last year on the back of strong arrivals from the country’s top 12 markets, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported over the weekend.

For August alone, visitor arrivals surged 18.41 percent to 480,690 from 405,970 a year ago.

Total revenue from inbound visitors amounted to P152.19 billion in the first eight months, while receipts for August grew 21.58 percent to P21.97 billion.

Asia contributed the biggest arrivals in August with 335,255 or 69.74 percent of total arrivals.

The Americas accounted for 12.43 percent of the market with 59,747, while Europe comprised 7.93 percent, contributing 38,135 arrivals.

Australia and the Pacific shared 4.22 percent, overseas Filipinos registered 3.07 percent and the Middle East accounted for 1.77 percent of the market share.

For the first time, all top 10 markets breached the hundred thousand mark in arrivals with Korea remaining the top contributor with 901,749 or a 25.12 percent share in the total inbound traffic.

The United States supplied the second biggest inbound arrival with 531,217 visitors, while the Japanese market also grew and ranked third with a total of 334,881. Meanwhile, arrivals from China reached 322,417 while Australian visitors stood at 153,097.

Other top markets include Singapore with 121,917 arrivals, Taiwan, 120,630; Malaysia, 103,995; United Kingdom, 103,577; and Canada, 102,293.

Moreover, Korea provided P8.85 billion in receipts followed by the United States with visitor receipts at P2.72 billion.