International visitor arrivals increased 5.4 percent in February from a year ago, in line with the Tourism Department’s goal to attract 7 million foreign tourists this year.
Data showed visitor arrivals hit 579,178 in February, the highest on record for the month. The department said arrivals also climbed 27.8 percent over the past four years.
Arrivals from South Korea increased 9.5 percent in February to 150,598 visitors and accounted for 26 percent of total inbound traffic.
“We have maintained and even increased figures from South Korea and we expect to see further growth, as Korean tourists perceive our country as a distinctive global destination built on unique experiences and rich natural beauty,” said Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo.
Other top sources of foreign visitors in February were the United States with 137,598 or 23.7 percent from the total pie; China with 78,251 or 13.5 percent; Japan with 53,957 or 9.32 percent; and Taiwan with 20,472 or 3.5 percent.
Other markets also showed an increase in February, as Australian arrivals rose 9.32 percent to 20,157 visitors and Canadian arrivals increased 21.4 percent to 19,016. Arrivals from the United Kingdom grew 15.7 percent to 15,226.
Among the top 12 markets, Germany registered the highest per capita expenditure in February at P60,260.45 per arrival. The United Kingdom followed with a per capita spending of P47,533.15; Canada with P43,761.75; Korea with 38,714.46; and France with P37,354.40.
The Philippines also welcomed a total of 8,176 cruise passengers through various ports in the country.
Manila remained the country’s top cruise destination with recorded arrivals of 2,785 passengers, followed by Boracay with 1,145, Bohol with 692 passengers and Pangasinan with 640 passengers.
“These numbers show that cruise tourism is one of the fastest growing segments in the Philippine tourism. This certainly gives us a positive outlook for the country’s cruise tourism market for this year,” Teo said.
Combined results in January and February accounted for 17.3 percent of the tourism sector’s target of 7 million arrivals in 2017.