INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Revenues from the country’s tourism industry reached an estimated P282.17 billion for the first half of the year, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The amount collected from Jan. 1 to June 30 was 32.81 percent higher than the P212.47 billion collected during the same period in 2023.
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“This 32.81-percent rise from last year’s figures not only showcases the growing appeal of the Philippines as a premier travel destination but also underscores the tangible benefits that tourism brings to our economy and our people,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.
Based on the DOT report, as of July 10, about 3.2 million visitors had entered the country, with 92.55 percent or 2,937,293 of these foreigners while 7.45 percent or 236,401 were overseas Filipinos.
South Korea was the country’s top source of foreign visitors, accounting for 824,798 or 25.99 percent of the total, followed by the US with 522,667 (16.47 percent), China, 199,939 (6.30 percent); Japan, 188,805 (5.95 percent); and Australia, 137,391 (4.33 percent). —JACOB LAZARO
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