S. KOREA, CHINA LIFT 10-MONTH ARRIVALS
The Philippines continues to be a place for fun for many foreign tourists, attracting some 6.8 million of them from January to October this year. Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed the 10-month visitor arrivals to be 15 percent higher than the 5.91 million recorded in the same period in 2018. Powering the increased arrivals this year were South Korea, China and Taiwan.
In January to October, arrivals from South Korea grew by 24.8 percent to some 1.61 million, and accounting for 23.67 percent of total arrivals. In second place was China, from which arrivals jumped by 41.5 percent to 1.5 million, and accounting for 22 percent of market share. Although only fifth in terms of market share, arrivals from Taiwan rose a significant 37.82 percent to 282,220.
Remaining stagnant were arrivals from the United States, which grew only by 2.54 percent to 872,335, putting them in third place with a market share of 12.64 percent. Tourism Attaché for the US Southwestern States and Latin America Richmond Patrick L. Jimenez, who is based in Los Angeles, told the BusinessMirror the sluggish growth of arrivals from the US could still be due to the US homeland Security advisory for Americans to avoid traveling to the Philippines via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The security advisory, issued on December 27, 2018, was only lifted on August 8.
he added, the DOT is now trying to penetrate the “mainstream markets” in the US (i.e., not balikbayan or FilipinoAmericans) to accelerate arrivals growth. Also, the DOT has also embarked on a program specific to Latin America to attract MICe (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) events.
In fourth spot was Japan with a 7.43-percent improvement in arrivals to 569,625. It was followed by Taiwan; then Australia at 226,167 (up 2.63 percent); Canada at 187,794 (up 5.42 percent);
and the United Kingdom at 168,954 (up 3.64 percent).
For his part, Gerard O. Panga, Tourism attaché for the UK and based in London, explained that Brexit continues to weigh on the UK citizens’ outbound travel plans, such that their arrivals growth in the Philippines are “modest.” In 2018, arrivals from the UK were recorded at 201,044, up 10 percent from the arrivals in 2017. This year, he said, his office projects a “3-percent to 5-percent increase” in arrivals from 2018, or 207,075 to 211,096.
The Philippines again participated
in last month’s World Travel Market in London, reputed to be one of the biggest trade and travel events in the world. “We continue to work on joint promotions with major partner agents in the UK. We also received interest/queries from new tour operators warning to open new programs to the Philippines for their British clients,” said Panga.
With the onset of the winter season, the DOT is expected to further push its promotions in the UK and other major cities in Europe.
Meanwhile, arrivals from Singapore dropped by 9.2 percent to 130,841 in the 10 months to October this year. In contrast, arrivals from India posted a 10.5-percent increase to 112,247.