Double-digit growth for Philippine tourism
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The Philippines experienced strong growth in tourist arrivals in the first four months of 2013.
According to the latest data from the country’s Department of Tourism, 1.65 million international visitors arrived in the Philippines in January-April 2013, 10.1% more than in the same period last year.
South Korea continued to be the Philippines’ largest source market in the first four months of 2013, contributing 406,600 visitors, or almost 25% of the total. The US remains second with 246,010 visitors (15%) with Japan third (148,950, 9%), China fourth (132,310, 8%) and Australia fifth (72,020, 4%).
The recent tensions with Taiwan however, have caused visitor levels from the country to drop 8% to 68,650.
“While the upsurge may primarily be attributed to the summer season, it is also a clear indication that the nation has galvanized its reputation as an attractive destination,” said the Philippines’ tourism secretary, Ramon Jimenez, Jr. “We have been seeing a sustainable increase in arrivals since last year. This building enthusiasm for the Philippines, aided by our government’s good governance agenda, gives us the confidence to achieve our target of 10m tourist arrivals by 2016.”
To achieve this ambitious target however, would require a faster pace of growth than the country is currently seeing. In 2012, the Philippines welcomed just 4.3m international visitors – 9% more than 2011, but still less than its full-year target of 4.6m.
An annual growth rate of 10% over the next four years would see the Philippines fall short of its 2016 target by some 3.7m visitors.