Chinese visitors in CV up 77.86% for Jan-Apr

Chinese visitors in Central Visayas posted a high of 77.86 percent growth in the first four months of the year.

Department of Tourism (DOT-7) record showed that a total of 126,000 Chinese visited the region from January to April this year, a good indication of an upswing momentum.

China is the region's third top market for tourists after Korea, which remains to be the province’s largest tourist market while Japan comes in second.

The renewed economic partnership between the Philippines and China was sealed after the state visit of President Rodrigo Duterte last year.

DOT consultant Robert Lim Joseph also believes that the interest of Chinese tourists to travel to the Philippines is primarily boosted by the friendly relationship between both governments.

"Now, Chinese travelers are more confident to travel to the Philippines more than ever," said Joseph.

According to DOT, aside from the magnified interest of Chinese travelers to consider Philippines as their alternative vacation destination, the increased number of direct flights connecting the region to China, fueled the stellar growth of Chinese arrivals to Central Visayas.

Likewise, the lifting of Beijing’s travel advisory against the Philippines in October of last year is also deemed as one of the reasons why the arrivals have pulled up to a surprising degree.

Recently, the DOT announced that tour operator Sun Fair International, which has offices in Xiamen and Hong Kong, has already committed additional 10,000 Chinese tourists coming from the cities of Shanghai, Xiamen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Beijing, starting May.

The additional Chinese tourists will make up a diverse group of leisure travelers, divers and adventure seekers to rollers, businessmen, culinary travelers to shoppers, and even employees on company paid tours.

Proposed local destinations include Manila, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Davao, Surigao, Subic, and Negros Occidental.