FILE PHOTO A worker disinfects chairs at the airport in Manila. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — International arrivals in the Philippines have surpassed the 300,000-mark since the country reopened its borders to fully-vaccinated tourists last February 10, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat reported Tuesday.
“From February 10 to April 25, na-surpass na natin ‘yung (we surpassed the) 300,000-mark. We received about 313,050 international arrivals,” Romulo-Puyat said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
Romulo-Puyat, however, said that the figure is far from the eight million pre-pandemic international tourist arrivals registered in 2019.
“Sa pre-pandemic levels naman with regard to international tourist arrivals, medyo malayo pa kasi nung 2019, we received about 8.26 million tourists. Pero masaya tayo kasi (But we are happy because) at least, we already received 313,050 international arrivals,” she added.
According to the tourism chief, most of the international travelers are from the United States, Canada, and Korea.
Romulo-Puyat reminded travelers to observe health protocols while on their trips.
“’Yun na nga syempre paalala pa rin, masaya tayo na we are slowly getting back to normal pero paalala rin that we still really have to follow minimum health and safety protocols,” she advised.
(Just a reminder, we are happy that we are slowly getting back to normal but I remind you that we still really have to follow minimum health and safety protocols.)