The number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines rose to 6.4 million last year.
While this figure is considered positive, it remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, which reached around 8 million.
According to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, the Bureau of Immigration recorded 5.9 million tourists.
Of this number, around 500,000 were foreign nationals under other travel categories, while more than 40,000 were overseas Filipinos.
Frasco explained that the figures reveal a gap in the government’s eTravel system, which reflects only 5.85 million arrivals.
She attributed the discrepancy to travelers exempt from eTravel reporting, such as foreign dignitaries, diplomats and their families, cruise passengers, and chartered flight arrivals.
The DOT continues to coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to address the data gaps and determine the actual number of visitors to the country.
Meanwhile, the number of international arrivals continues to increase, led by travelers from South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and India, following the implementation of visa-free policies.
(PHOTO COURTESY: DOT)
