Philippines Welcomes Record Visitor Arrivals, Driven by Surge in Chinese Tourists

The tourism industry in the Philippines is celebrating a strong uptick in visitor arrivals, which reached an astounding 1,662,491 in the first quarter of 2024—an incredible 18.3% rise over the same time the previous year.

The Department of Tourism’s data indicates that the notable return of Chinese tourists is mostly to blame for this surge.

Among the main source tourism markets, China grew at the quickest rate, with 109,568 tourists visiting in Q1 2024, growing at an exponential rate of 150.0%.

Closely after, Japan saw an amazing 63.2% increase in arrivals, totaling 105,347, while South Korea saw a respectable 26.0% increase in tourists, or 458,619, over Q1 2023.

In terms of new arrivals, South Korea continues to be the top source market, followed by the US, China, Japan, and Australia.

Of all arrivals in Q1, overseas Filipinos made up 112,668; foreign arrivals rose to 1,568,226 (a 21.3% rise).

With 582,332 arrivals, February was the busiest month for visitors, closely followed by January (574,439 arrivals) and March (505,720 visits).

The significant rise in visitor numbers is indicative of the Philippines’ growing appeal as a travel destination, which is being driven by deliberate efforts to attract a variety of foreign markets and enhance visitor experiences.

Original Story by: Inside Asian Gaming