PH tourism reaps P149B in revenue as of November from 2.4-M visitors

A stretch of Alona Beach in Panglao Island, Bohol which is world-renowned for its serene, white-sand beaches. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LEO UDTOHAN)

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s tourism revenue as of November 2022 reached P149 billion, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said on Wednesday.

Citing the Department of Tourism (DOT) year-end report, the OPS said the Philippine government generated P149 billion in revenue from the tourism sector as of last month.

About 2.4 million foreign tourists visited the country, which according to the OPS , hit 75 percent of the DOT’s target.

The department earlier said it projected about 1.7 million international visitor arrivals in the Philippines this year — a target it surpassed in November.

The OPS also mentioned the DOT’s 2023 goal of “2.6 million international tourist arrivals in a low scenario and 6.4 million in a high scenario.”

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco previously noted that the volume of visitor arrivals recorded this year was only about 30 percent of the sector’s pre-pandemic data at 8.3 million in 2019.

According to the OPS, the DOT has also outlined its plans and programs in 2023, which focus on “connectivity, convenience, and e(Quality).”

Among its plans are to boost support for local government-initiated infrastructure, open up Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority properties to development through public-private partnerships, develop cruise tourism involving at least 136 ports of call in more than 40 islands, conduct regional travel fairs, develop tourism circuits and continue convergence with tourism-enhancing government agencies.

The DOT is also looking into establishing tourism information desks and tourist rest areas, upgrading the accreditation standards to ensure the competitiveness of the country’s tourism sector, opening Mindanao for tourism and promoting Halal tourism, among others.

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gsg/abc