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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH records increase in in foreign tourist arrival from Middle East, GCC countries

PH records increase in in foreign tourist arrival from Middle East, GCC countries

Published May 18, 2025 05:54 pm

At A Glance

  • The Department of Tourism has implemented several measures to address the decline in Chinese tourist arrivals in 2024

The Philippines has started to move on from the decline of Chinese visitor arrivals as the country began to record significant improvement on the arrival of other foreign tourists, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said they recorded growing numbers of tourists from the Middle East and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, particularly coming from expat communities in the region.

The DOT missed the Chinese tourista arrival target in 2024, with some experts attributing it to the crackdown on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The target Chinese tourist arrival for 2024 is 7.7 million but the recorded arrival last year was only 5.9 million.

“The lesson that we learned from that is to really be able to diversify our dependency into other markets as well. And so now, we are targeting markets such as the Middle East and the GCC, as well as India,” said Frasco.

“Because of our efforts to diversify, we are seeing, for example, from the Middle East and the GCC, an average of no less than 500 to 800% growth rate in terms of international tourism arrivals,” she added.

Among the measures that proved effective in attracting more foreign visitors from Middle east and GCC countries to increase the country’s attractiveness as a Halal and Muslim-friendly destination, including the recognition of more accommodation establishments and restaurants, as well as the launch of the Muslim-friendly Marhaba Cove in the world-famous Boracay Island.

Frasco said they are also strengthening the measures to attract more foreign visitors from South Korea, Japan, the United States, as well as Europe.

She also noted that visitors from Australia and South Korea – among the Philippines’ top sources of tourists – continue to rise in number with connectivity expanding, and with tourists coming to appreciate the country’s tourism products, including diving, golf tourism, as well as beach and adventure.

“The beauty of coming to the Philippines is that it is a very diversified destination. We are able to cater to any type of traveler, whether you are a solo traveler, a couple, a family, and the like,” said Frasco.

“And so, with the number of islands that we have and the readiness of these destinations, then we are excited to welcome people of all nationalities,” she added.

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