International visitor arrivals in the Philippines reached 5.45 million in 2023, or 105.6 percent higher than 2.65 million in 2022, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Tuesday.
Latest data from the DOT showed that of the total arrivals last year, foreign tourists accounted for the bulk of 91.8 percent or 5 million, while overseas Filipinos represented the balance of 8.2 percent, or 447,082.
The country generated also over P480 billion in international tourism receipts last year.
“These numbers speak very well of the performance of the tourism industry under the Marcos administration. Since we took office, we have set our goals for the industry not only in terms of international visitor arrivals but most importantly, the number of Filipinos, including their families, who will benefit from the opportunities generated by our constant and continuous efforts to make the industry prosper more than what we have aimed for,” Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina Frasco said.
“We assure the President, including our partners from the public and private sectors, that we will continue to realize the vision of this administration to make tourism a catalyst for economic growth and resurgence,” said Frasco.
Frasco said the 2023 figures also surpassed the DOT’s target of 4.8 million visitors by 13.5 percent. She said that in 2024, the DOT is looking at a baseline target of 7.7 million international visitor arrivals.
South Korea remained the country’s main source of international visitors, accounting for 26.41 percent or about 1.43 million foreign tourists last year, followed by the United States with 903,299 or 16.57 percent.
Japan accounted for 5.61 percent or 305,580; Australia, 4.89 percent or 266,551; and China, 4.84 percent or 263,836 tourists.
Canada, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia rounded up the top ten foreign sources of international visitors.
The DOT said the tourism industry recovered faster than expected as international tourism receipts surged by 124.87 percent to P482.54 billion in 2023 from P214.58 billion in 2022. It said around P6.317 billion in sales leads were delivered through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines.
Adding to the sales and investments prospects are the numerous citations and awards the DOT won in 2023 that include the World’s Leading Dive Destination, World’s Leading Beach Destination, the World’s Leading City Destination for Manila, Asia’s Best Cruise Destination and Asia’s Leading Dive Destination.
The DOT also garnered more than 15 travel and tourism honors from prestigious award-giving bodies in categories including diving, beach, cruise, culinary, retirement and Muslim-friendly tourism award.
“Looking ahead to 2024, our commitment to the transformation of Philippine tourism is unwavering. Guided by our National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028, we are poised for a thriving tourism landscape, evident in surpassing our targets in international and domestic arrivals and receipts, fostering economic prosperity and further job creation for our people,” Frasco said.
