Philippine tourism registers positive growth
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine tourism industry is ending 2011 with a bang. The Department of Tourism reported that over 3.2 million visitors arrived in the country from January to October, 2011, a 13 percent higher than the target of 3.8 million arrivals for this year. The month of February, 2011, posted the highest growth at 18.52 percent.
Visitors from East Asia accounted for 47.44 percent of total tourist arrivals, with 1,511,389 visitors, higher by 17.71 percent over last year’s 1,283,965. China, Korea, and Japan accounted for more than 83 percent of the arrivals. Visitors from North America totalled 604,226, for 18.97 percent share of the total, a growth of 5.03 percent. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations contributed 270,409 arrivals, 8.49 percent of the total. The Australasia-Pacific region had 179,874 arrivals, 5.65 percent, and Northern Europe accounted for 129,346, 4.06 percent.
The gains in tourism are attributed to the government’s intensified efforts to draw in more tourists, modernize airports and seaports, and improve roads and bridges. It will soon modernize the international gateways such as the airports in Laoag City, Clark, and Subic, as well as Puerto Princesa, Cebu- Mactan, and Panglao, and build new facilities in the South such as Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga international airports, and Kalibo in Aklan.
The government seeks to increase the number of tourists to 6.3 million international arrivals and over 32 million domestic travelers by 2016. The major marketing point for our tourism program are nature’s abundance, our tropical climate, forests, caves, pristine beaches, and water sports. Domestic travel remains the backbone of the tourism industry. There is a marked improvement in domestic tourism, as municipalities promote their tourist spots. Airline companies, through promo fares, have made it possible for more Filipinos to fly and visit the country’s attractions.
The gains in tourism augurs well for industry in the coming year. The government is stepping up its efforts to invite more tourists, and in the process, create more jobs and boost entrepreneurship, especially in the countryside.
