Philippines tourist arrivals 2024 have reached an impressive milestone, with over 3 million tourists visiting in the first half of the year, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). In a statement released on Thursday, the DOT reported that a total of 3,173,694 tourists visited the country from January to June.
Of these arrivals, more than 2.9 million were foreign visitors, while the remaining 236,401 were overseas Filipinos returning to their homeland. This significant number of tourists underscores the Philippines’ growing appeal as a premier travel destination in Southeast Asia.
South Korea emerged as the top source of foreign tourists, with 824,798 South Koreans visiting the Philippines in the first six months of the year. They were followed by tourists from the United States, which accounted for 522,667 arrivals. China, Japan, and Australia also contributed substantial numbers, with 199,939, 188,805, and 137,391 visitors respectively.
Other notable sources of international tourists included Taiwan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Malaysia. This diverse influx of visitors highlights the Philippines’ broad appeal to travelers from across the globe.
The surge in tourist arrivals has also translated into significant economic benefits for the country. Tourism receipts reached P282.17 billion from January to June, marking a 32.81 percent increase compared to the P212.47 billion recorded during the same period last year. This boost in revenue is a testament to the growing popularity of the Philippines as a travel destination.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed optimism about the continued growth in tourist arrivals for the second half of the year. “We anticipate these numbers to increase, not only in terms of revenue generated but most importantly, in the number of Filipinos employed in tourism-related industries,” she said.
Secretary Frasco also highlighted various projects aimed at enhancing the country’s connectivity and improving the overall visitor experience. “Many projects aimed at improving the country’s connectivity and enhancing our visitors’ convenience are also in the pipeline to sustain the good work we have started,” she added.
The Philippines is targeting a total of 7.7 million international tourist arrivals for the entire year of 2024. With the positive momentum from the first half of the year, the DOT is confident that this goal is within reach.
As the Philippines continues to enhance its tourism infrastructure and promote its unique attractions, the country is poised to attract even more visitors, further solidifying its status as a top global travel destination.
