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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI records 14.7-M international passenger arrivals in 2024

BI records 14.7-M international passenger arrivals in 2024

Published Mar 2, 2025 06:03 am

A total of 14,733,597 international passengers arrived in the Philippines in 2024, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday, March 2.

Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the number of arrivals last year is nearing the pre-pandemic numbers which reached 17,085,097 in 2019.

“The return of international arrivals to near pre-pandemic (Covid-19) levels is a testament to the Philippines’ appeal as a top destination,” said Viado.

“The BI remains committed to streamlining and modernizing our entry procedures to support this momentum while upholding border security,” he added.

The BI said its records show that the top foreign passenger arrivals in 2024 were from South Korea with 1,761,281 visitors. The United States followed with 1,325,684 arrivals and China with 500,082 inbound travelers.

The other arrivals came from key markets like Japan, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, India, and Singapore, it also said.

“The BI fully supports the government’s initiatives to strengthen the tourism industry,” Viado said.

“We will continue working with relevant agencies to ensure that immigration policies align with global tourism trends, making the Philippines an even more accessible and welcoming destination,” he added.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) had earlier said that it would push for the expansion of the country’s hotel industry to accommodate the increasing number of visitors and strengthen the Philippines’ position as a leading travel destination.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco noted that while the country’s visitor arrivals remain lower than some ASEAN neighbors, the steady influx of tourists has significantly boosted local hotels and businesses.

To address the growing demand for accommodations, the DOT, in partnership with the Philippine Hotel Owners Association, has launched the Philippine Hotel Industry Strategic Action Plan (PHISAP) 2023–2028.

Frasco also underscored the strength of domestic tourism, citing the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) valuation of over $66.2 billion, which continues to drive employment and business expansion nationwide.

To attract more investments, the DOT has pushed for the tourism sector’s inclusion in the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) and is advocating for its reclassification under tier three to secure stronger government incentives.

The department is also working to expand the list of eligible tourism enterprises under the SIPP to encourage participation from major developers and small-scale investors.

As part of efforts to promote balanced development, the DOT has facilitated the removal of locational restrictions for tourism projects, opening more areas across the country to hotel investments. (With Trixee Rosel)

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