The country’s 2022 tourism industry generated P208.96 billion ($3.68 billion) in revenues, a whopping 2,465 percent increase from 2021, with 2.65 million international visitor arrivals as of end this year and setting the stage for a more vibrant 2023, the Department of Tourism reported.
In a report, the DOT said the figure covered only from February 2022 to end December because the tourism industry only reopened its borders for all type of travelers in the second month of last year. The DOT further noted that tourist arrivals exceeded the 1.7-million target for the year.
With the reopening in February, Filipinos abroad flocked back to the country for the annual Christmas and New Year celebrations as well as visits from foreign tourists who chose the Philippines as their holiday destination.
Of the total 2.65 million international visitor arrivals last year, 628, 445 were returning Filipinos while the bulk of 2.02 million tourists were foreigners from the country’s top tourist markets from the United States (505,089), South Korea (428,014), Australia (137,974), Canada (121,413), the United Kingdom (101,034), Japan (99,557), Singapore (53,448), India (51,542), Malaysia (46,805), and China (39,627).
The DOT also reported of an estimated 5.23 million tourism-related jobs generated. There were also 11,989 DOT-accredited tourism enterprises as of December 29, 2022. A total of 25,770 tourism stakeholders have also been trained.
In her New Year’s Eve message, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said this clearly showed the gains of the Marcos administration’s support for tourism and the hard work of the entire tourism industry towards recovery amid the setbacks from the unprecedented crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Frasco noted that the numbers were achieved despite the new administration’s being only six months in office as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was elected only in May last year.
Frasco expressed optimism for 2023 as a year filled with abundance, optimism and hope. “Moments of great difficulty are also moments of great opportunity. In the past, we have overcome a global pandemic, survived various calamities, and thrived through a host of many other challenges, yet, the Philippine tourism industry has managed to exceed expectations and our tourism partners and frontliners continue to offer the best of Filipino grace and hospitality to the world,” the tourism chief said.
Frasco also thanked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. for his continuous support to the tourism industry as one of the drivers for economic recovery.
She noted that the efforts made by the Department, together with its partners, were part of the current administration’s vision for it to be a catalyst for the Philippines’ economic resurgence not only in terms of job opportunities but investments as well.
“Therefore, we welcome 2023 with gratitude and excitement for Philippine Tourism to bounce back stronger than ever. We shall welcome with warmth and that distinct Filipino smile visitors from all over the world as they visit our award-winning beaches, experience the richness of our culture, and enjoy our world-renowned Filipino Brand of service excellence,” she said.
Earlier, Frasco revealed to the media that the DOT is targeting 4.8 million international visitors in 2023 as its baseline but she remains hopeful that the Department will again surpass its targets just like the achievements done in 2022.
“We look forward to the continued convergence and collaboration of our tourism stakeholders— travelers, tourism players, national agencies, local government units, and host communities— in propelling our industry to the heights of becoming a tourism powerhouse in Asia,” the tourism chief concluded.