DOT records 6.6 million foreign tourists in 2017

A tourist takes a photo at Fort Santiago in Manila on June 16, 2017. AFP FILE PHOTO

Despite controversies, disasters, and calamities, the Department of Tourism (DOT) had recorded more than 6.6 million of foreign tourists who came in the country last 2017.

 According to the latest data of DOT, 6,620,908 international arrivals were recorded, posting an 11% growth in the tourism industry of the Philippines.

 The tourism department then tagged the 11% growth as an “all-time high.”

 “We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all the tourism stakeholders who worked hand in hand with the Department of Tourism in achieving another milestone for the country,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said in a statement Wednesday night.

 “We overcame these challenges with the innate resiliency of the Filipinos and the cooperation of everybody. And for that we are very thankful,” Teo added.

 In 2016, the number of foreign visitors recorded were only at 5,967,006, the data showed.

 Teo also noted the biggest events that the country hosted such as the Miss Universe 2017, ASEAN Summit, Madrid Fusión Manila 2017, World Street Food Congress, and the UNWTO International Conference on Tourism Statistics, and thanked all the stakeholders who made it possible.

 The top countries who contributed to the high number of tourist arrivals were South Korea, China, the United States of America, Japan, and Australia.

Meanwhile, the month of January recorded the highest arrivals and was followed by December with 620,121 and 603,062

 “For this year, with an expanded marketing plan, improved quality, human resource capacity, and service standards, we will continue to push for new and underrated destinations,” Teo said.

 The National Tourism Development Plan of the DOT expects 7.4 million international arrivals for the year 2018. /je