THE Department of Tourism is upbeat about tourist arrivals in the country, saying the seven-million mark may be reached by end of the year.
Arrivals already rose 11 percent per month from 2016 level, DoT record showed. As of August 2017, arrivals exceeded 4.5 million.
Much of the increase was traced to the recently Association of Southeast Asian Nations summits and related meetings.
“The Philippines’ hosting of the Asean summit significantly increased the number of tourist arrivals. The 11-percent-increase, constant increase, it’s due to Asean that brought in visitors to the Philippines,” an official said.
Some delegates extended their visit to the country, particularly in Baguio City, Pampanga and Bohol.
Aside from Asean visitors, consistency in South Korean tourists arrivals along with Chinese visitors, which was nearing one million for 2017, boosted tourism.
Tourist arrivals to the Philippines closed at 5.97 million in 2016. PNA