Tourist arrivals rose by 17.57 percent compared to the same period last year, the DOT said. Tourists spending was highest in February at P48 billion, it added.
“For June 2019, spending reached an estimated P38 billion, which is 30.56 percent higher than the same month last year, while tourist per capita expenditure increased to $1,086.61 or 30.97 percent higher than June 2018,” the department said.
The DOT added there was also an increase in the amount spent by tourists per day ($120.60), and stayed an average of 9.01 nights — 28.64 percent and 1.81 percent higher than the same month last year.
Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat praised these developments, saying the effort to promote the country as a top tourist destination was all for the benfit of Filipinos.
“Tourism in 2018 was responsible for 5.4 million jobs in 2018, contributing 12.7 percent or P2.2 trillion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). At the end of the day, it is the number of lives changed for the better by tourism that would truly count,” she said.
The DOT said earlier 4.1 million foreigners visited the country from January to June this year, indicating an 11.43 pecent increase from the same period in 2018.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 16) — The Department of Tourism said Friday tourists poured in around P245 billion into the economy during the first half of 2019.
