The Philippines' tourism industry recorded over P282 billion (US$4.77
billion) in revenue during the first half of 2024, marking a
significant 32.81% increase from the same period last year, according to
the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco highlighted the economic impact,
stating, "The income generated through tourism directly translates to
more opportunities and improved livelihoods for Filipinos, reinforcing
the critical role this industry plays in our nation’s progress."
As of 10 July, tourist arrivals totalled 3.17 million, consisting of
approximately 2.9 million foreign nationals and 236,401 overseas
Filipinos. South Korea led in foreign arrivals with 824,000 visitors,
followed by the United States at 522,000, and China at third with
199,000 visitors.
Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and
Malaysia made up the remaining top visitor source markets for the
Philippines.
Frasco expressed optimism for continued growth in the latter half of
the year, emphasising expectations for increased revenue and job
creation in tourism-related sectors.