The country’s tourism revenue from inbound visitors reached P282.17 billion in the first half of 2024, up by 32.81 percent from P212.46 billion in the same period last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Thursday.
DOT Secretary Christina Frasco underscored the increasing appeal of the Philippines as a premier travel destination and the effectiveness of the government’s initiatives to revitalize the tourism sector.
“The significant increase in our tourism earnings to P282.17 billion in just the first half of 2024 is a testament to the relentless efforts of the Marcos administration in revitalizing our tourism sector,” said Frasco.
The income generated through tourism directly translates into more opportunities and improved livelihoods for Filipinos, reinforcing the critical role this industry plays in the nation’s progress, she said.
Data show that as of July 10, 2024, international visitor arrivals reached 3,173,694, with South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Australia as the top five source markets.
The DOT said it expects arrivals, revenue generation and the number of Filipinos employed in tourism-related industries to further grow in the second half.
It said ongoing projects that aim to improve the country’s connectivity and enhance visitors’ convenience would sustain the growth of the sector.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts a “record-breaking” year for the Philippines’ travel and tourism industry in 2024, with the sector’s contribution to the national economy expected to reach P5.4 trillion.
Employment in tourism is projected to exceed 9.5 million jobs, representing 20 percent of the national workforce.
“This growth is testament to the government’s efforts in enhancing tourism infrastructure, with efforts underway to upgrade regional airports to alleviate congestion at Manila’s main airport and make travel more accessible,” the WTTC said in its report.
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