Tourism posts 4.25% growth in February

Earnings of the Philippine tourism industry grew 4.25% in February this year while it also recorded a rise in tourist arrivals during the month, the Department of Tourism reported.

Data provided by DOT Central Visayas yesterday showed that total revenues gained from tourism activities in February 2015 amounted to P19.35 billion, up 4.25% from P18.56 billion last year.

“In US dollars, visitor receipts reached US$ 437.52 million with an increase of 5.84% from February 2014’s earnings of US$ 413.39 million,” the DOT stated in its February 2015 Visitor Receipt and Arrival Report.

The tourism agency also noted that Korean visitors gave the highest contribution amounting to P7.36 billion while tourists from USA was second in terms of spending at P3.01 billion.

“This was followed by Japan with P913.33 million and Canada (P857.53 million). Australia with P836.43 million provided the 5th biggest visitor receipts for the month,” the DOT further reported.

The agency estimated that daily spending of overseas visitors during the month averaged at P4,149.29.

On the other hand, average period of stay was registered at 10.40 nights in February 2015, up 1.46% from 10.25 recorded last year.

ARRIVALS The DOT also reported a rise of 8.02% in tourist arrivals in February to 456,524 from 422,631 last year.

It said: “It can be noted that the increase was achieved despite the fact that the Chinese New Year in 2014 was celebrated in February, hence this month’s volume is coming from a big base in 2014.”

The tourism department also attributed the arrival increase to the country’s main tourism markets such as East Asian countries Hongkong, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Macau.

Canada, Mexico, USA and countries from North America also recorded a rise in terms of tourist arrivals. — Carlo S. Lorenciana