More than 9,000 overseas visitors entered PH after eased restrictions — DOT

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat. Photo courtesy of DOT

MANILA, Philippines — More than 9,000 visitors from foreign countries have entered the country on the first few days of eased restrictions, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported on Tuesday.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said that 9,283 tourists have visited the country as of Monday, February 14, pointing out that 4,209 of them are “balikbayans” or returning Filipinos while 5,074 are foreign tourists.

The tourism chief added that visitors from the United States of America make up the majority of visitors with 2,227 arrivals, followed by 661 from Canada, 404 from Australia, 344 from the United Kingdom, 189 from South Korea, 169 from Japan, and 168 from Germany.

READ: Over 7,000 tourist arrivals since Feb. 10 reopening – DOT 

Romulo Puyat, in a statement, said: “We at the DOT are excited to see a revival in our local tourism and will continue to support our  partners in achieving this goal.”

“International travel and tourism saw an unprecedented decline in visitor arrivals amid the pandemic; the reopening of Philippines’ borders to visitors from visa-free countries will surely help in improving our numbers,” she added.

Fully vaccinated tourists are required to present proof of vaccination as approved by the country’s pandemic task force or the World Health Organization, as well as a negative RT-PCR swab test result taken within 48 hours before their departure in their country of origin.

Starting February 10, the Philippines has allowed  the entry of fully vaccinated tourists from 157 countries that have visa-free arrangements with the country.

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