Tourist arrivals top 3 M in 8 mos

nternational visitor arrivals continued on a record streak this year, growing 11.8 percent in the first eight months to .18 million from .8 million in the same period last year, data released y the epartment of ourism showed.

ourism ecretary amon imene r. said the eightmonth tourist arrivals marked another milestone as it is the first time that foreign visitors achieved the three-million figure in August.

He said the 3.18 million figure represents 57.83 percent of the targeted 5.5 million arri als for 2013.

ast year, the country recei ed its three millionth isitor in September hile in 2011, it reached the three million ar ri als in ctober.

oreans remained the top group of international tour ists ith 822,128 isitors hich represented 21.06 percent of total arri als.

he chief said they e pect the orean market to re main a strong source of international tourist mo ement until the end of the year.

espite posting minimal gro th in arri als, the nited States still remained as the second biggest source of tour ists for the country ith a 2.49 percent gro th or 457,819 isitors, comprising 14.39 percent of the entire inbound traffic.

he apanese market regained its place as the third larg est source of foreign arri als, capturing 9.23 percent of total tourists or 293,445 isitors.

hina, hich climbed up to third place in uly, ent back to fourth place ith 288,826 isitors or 9.08 percent of total isitor olume.