MANILA, Philippines -- The Holy Week will see as many as 200,000 to 250,000 Filipinos touring the country, making this period "the highest in any single month for domestic travel,'' according to Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace'' Durano.

Durano said on Monday that the Holy Week would kick off the summer travel for domestic tourists and that people would mostly likely go to "favorite getaways'' like beach resorts rather than to places with "religious significance.''

Batangas and Mindoro have been among the favorite getaways during Holy Week, he told reporters in Malacañang.

Domestic travellers in the country have been numbering from eight million to 10 million a year, the tourism secretary also said. In 2007, domestic travellers spent $800 million, he also said.

Durano said the rise in domestic travel, seen in the past three years, indicated that the economy was good because people could afford to take leisure trips.

Asked whether crucifixions being held in some provinces remained a tourist draw, Durano said that religious and cultural practices were not the main tourist attraction, noting these were more a "domestic curiosity.''

The country?s summer weather was the main draw for foreigners, Durano said.