One of the country’s top tourist destinations is Coron, Palawan. Katherine G. Adraneda/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign tourist arrivals have reached over 6 million for the first nine months of 2019, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.
DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said the agency recorded 6.16 million visitors from January to September this year, which is 14.37 percent higher than the recorded foreign tourist arrivals in the same period in 2018.
“We reached 6.16 million foreign visitors, this is a record-high for the first nine months of every year,” Bengzon said in an interview.
From January to September last year, DOT recorded 4.95 million tourists.
This number is right on track with DOT’s target for 2019 pegged at 8.2 million tourist arrivals, said Bengzon.
“The 6.16 [million] represents a growth rate of 14.37 percent so almost invariably the next question is are we on track? With the 8.2 million [target], if you look at the 14.37 percent growth, yes do have a striking distance,” Bengzon said.