Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28) — Philippine tourism revenues reached ₱149 billion or $2.6 million as of November this year as some 2.4 million tourists visited the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported Wednesday.
Citing DOT’s year-end report, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the number of international tourist arrivals was 75% of the agency’s target after the Philippines was dubbed the world’s leading beach and dive destination.
This surpassed DOT’s earlier projection of 1.7 million foreign visitor arrivals, which was already achieved in October due to continuous easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
OPS officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil said the Tourism department is expecting 2.6 million international tourist arrivals or as high as 6.4 million for 2023.
Garafil added the major thrust of tourism officials for their 2023 plans would focus on connectivity, convenience, and “e(Quality).”
“These initiatives are under the DOT’s Seven-Point Agenda aimed at improving tourism infrastructure, establishing cohesive digitalization and connectivity, enhancing the country’s overall tourism experience and equalizing product development,” Malacañang said.
“The tourism department also plans to open Mindanao for tourism and promote Halal tourism, conduct Philippine national job fairs, and expand the tourism opportunity markets,” the OPS said.
Part of the 2023 plans of the agency include helping local government-initiated tourism infrastructure, as well as opening up Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) properties to development.
The DOT will also develop “Cruise Tourism” involving at least 136 ports of call in over 40 islands, hold regional travel fairs, develop tourism circuits, and continue the coordination with concerned government agencies.
The Tourism department will also create tourism information desks and tourist rest areas and improve accreditation standards of the tourism sector, the OPS said.
In an earlier interview with CNN Philippines, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the agency will also turn the spotlight on undiscovered tourism spots in the country next year.
Frasco also said the DOT is working on giving tourists travel packages that would let them visit one province, city, or town to another in a short timeframe.
The DOT has also partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to enhance internet connectivity of 94 tourist destinations in the country, as well as include tourism services in an upcoming one-stop shop mobile app for government transactions.
