DOT surpasses 5 million mark in foreign tourist arrivals for 2023

A cruise ship from Australia named Coral Adventure Expedition Cruise Line docked at Cawit port in Boac, Marinduque on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. This is the first time in the island’s history that a cruise ship arrived on its shores. (File photo from MARINDUQUE NEWS)

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Tourism (DOT) has already breached the 5-million mark in international tourist arrivals for 2023.

According to DOT Secretary Christina Frasco, international tourist arrivals as of December 12 have been logged at 5,067,752.

“With the holidays already here, we are confident we will further breach the target that was set this year at 4.8 million international arrivals,” said Frasco at the presentation of the accomplishments of DOT.

She added that with this development, tourism has contributed nearly P440 billion to the Philippine economy in 2023.

In 2022, 2.6 million foreign tourists visited the country.

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourists numbered to over 163,000.

Frasco said the country’s recovery from the pandemic, in terms of international tourist arrivals, from January to November 2023 is at 65 percent.

She cited the barometer of United Nations’ World Tourism Organization.

The 65 percent recovery rate is higher than the 62 percent found among nations in the Asia Pacific region.

Frasco also bared from January 1 to November 30, 2023, international visitor receipts have been registered at P439 billion.

The amount translates to 95 percent of the 458 billion receipts recorded for 2019.

Frasco also reported tourism in the country has provided more than 5 million jobs for Filipinos.

Such record is equivalent to 11 percent of the entire national employment.

“We’re optimistic that this number will increase this year, anticipating that we will have twice as many foreign visitors that we received last year,” said Frasco.