ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOT records 5.9-M foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, but misses target due to decline in Chinese visitors

DOT records 5.9-M foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, but misses target due to decline in Chinese visitors

Published Jan 22, 2025 07:43 am

kapihan.jpg

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco  discusses both the tourism challenge in 2024 and the plans for this year during the Kapihan sa Manila Prince Hotel” forum on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, hosted by former senator Joey Lina and former Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma. 

 

The Philippines recorded 5.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024 but the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Wednesday, Jan. 22, that it missed the 7.7 million target due to a sharp decline in Chinese visitors.

“Barriers to entry, notably the suspension of the electronic visa, severely impacted the Chinese market,” DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said during the “Kapihan sa Manila Prince Hotel” forum.

Frasco explained that the drop in Chinese arrivals was driven by both geopolitical tensions and the e-visa suspension, which disrupted the sector’s recovery.

The 2024 goal of attracting over 2 million Chinese tourists was not met, with only 300,000 arriving—far below expectations.

The e-visa suspension, which took effect in December 2023 in response to a surge in fraudulent applications, played a key role in this decline.

While the Philippine government's ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) also affected the market due to links to criminal activities such as human trafficking and document fraud, Frasco emphasized that restricted visa access was the primary cause.

The DOT is working with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to resolve the issue.

Tourism revenue grows despite setback in arrivals

Despite the drop in Chinese visitors, the DOT reported a significant P760 billion in tourism revenue for 2024, marking a 9 percent increase from the previous year.

This growth was attributed to the diversification of the tourism market, with South Korea remaining the leading source of international arrivals.

Frasco highlighted emerging markets, such as Australia, India, and Japan, as key areas for growth, bolstered by initiatives like the introduction of electronic travel authorities for Indian travelers.

Strengthening infrastructure and domestic tourism

Frasco further emphasized the importance of domestic tourism, where the Philippines continues to lead Southeast Asia.

She outlined the DOT’s ongoing collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to rehabilitate over 500 kilometers of tourism roads, with plans for continued infrastructure development in 2025.

To enhance tourist safety and convenience, the DOT launched a tourist assistance call center, which received 11,700 calls from 70 countries.

The department also introduced tourist rest areas and the “Philippine Experience” campaign, aimed at promoting the country’s culture, heritage, and local products to bolster regional tourism.

Frasco acknowledged the unique challenges posed by the Philippines’ archipelagic nature, which relies heavily on air and sea travel.

She commended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his efforts to improve tourism infrastructure, including the privatization of key airports and the expansion of direct and regional flight options.

“To remain competitive with our ASEAN neighbors, we must diversify our tourism products and invest in marketing and promotions,” Frasco said.

With a restored marketing budget of P500 million for 2025, the DOT plans to ramp up promotional campaigns and solidify the Philippines’ standing as a premier global tourism destination.

Frasco concluded by reaffirming the DOT’s commitment to revitalizing the Philippine tourism industry, expressing optimism for stronger growth in the coming years despite the challenges faced in 2024.

ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.