The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is expecting at least 30 percent increase in arrivals on the first day of the opening of the country’s borders to foreign tourists.
BI port operations chief Carlos Capulong said they are expecting almost 7,000 arrivals on Thursday, Feb 10, a significant increase from last year's total of 4,816 on the day.
Most of the expected travelers are Filipinos, while 27 percent would comprise foreigners.
Fully vaccinated foreign nationals will be allowed entry subject to the presentation of required documents set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente instructed port personnel to remain vigilant and ensure that only eligible aliens will be allowed entry.
Morente said that loved ones and partners of Filipinos will be among those who will be the first to come.
“Many unmarried couples and families have long lobbied for the reopening of our borders to be reunited with their loved ones,” said Morente.
Morente said that the BI projects that the number arrivals could rise up to 12 thousands per day in the succeeding months.
“Hopefully everything goes well so that the country's tourism industry will recover," he added.