Despite falling short of the 2024 tourist arrival target, the Department of Tourism (DoT) reported that more foreign visitors were in the country last year compared to 2023.

In a statement, the DoT said from 1 January to 31 December 2024, travelers to the country reached 5.9 million with 91.42 percent foreigners while the remaining 8.58 percent or 510,383 were Filipinos living overseas.

The total in 2024 was higher by 9.15 percent when compared to data on visitor arrivals in 2023, recorded at 5,450,557 foreign guests.

South Korea maintained its position as the top source of foreign tourists, with arrivals increasing to 1,574,152 million from 1,455.977 million in 2023, garnering more than 26 percent of the total market share.

“The growth of Korean tourists can be attributed to the effective strategic marketing initiatives, enhanced air connectivity and strengthened cultural exchanges, particularly as the two nations marked the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Furthermore, the Philippines’ growing reputation as a prime destination for incentive travel has played a key role in the positive trend, attracting an increasing number of Korean companies hosting their reward trips for their employees in the Philippines’ world-class tourist destinations,” Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco said.

The United States ranked second with 1,076.633 visitors in 2024, followed by Japan (444,528); China (313,856); Australia (299,286), and Canada (269,300).

Emerging markets like Taiwan and Singapore demonstrated strong growth momentum, with arrivals reaching 213.833 and 198.471, respectively.

Tourism revenues perk up, too

Meanwhile, Frasco also reported P760.5 billion in tourism-related revenues marking a notable increase of 9.04 percent versus the P697.46 billion recorded in 2023.

The figures last year also surpassed pre-pandemic levels, exceeding the estimated P600 billion in 2019 or an increase by 26.75 percent.

The performance translates to a recovery rate of 126.75 percent for the local tourism economy, highlighting the sector’s resilience and vitality.

“With these figures, it is clear that the Philippine tourism industry is not only bouncing back but also evolving and expanding, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic stability and growth. In the past year, we have witnessed remarkable growth in tourism revenue, which has surpassed previous records,” Frasco said.

“This achievement is not just a statistic; it translates to thousands of jobs created for Filipinos, fostering economic resilience and enabling families to thrive. The tourism sector has become a crucial engine for economic development, providing livelihood opportunities for many, especially in our rural and underserved areas,” Frasco added.