Tourist arrivals up in Jan.-Feb.

Foreign arrivals in the first two months of the year surged 16.15 percent, driven by the influx of Chinese tourists.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported that tourist arrivals reached 1,406,337 in January to February, higher than the 1,210,817 in the same period in 2017.

In February, a total of 673,831 visitors arrived in the country, a bulk of which was contributed by the Chinese market accounting for 21.6 percent of arrivals at 145,536.

A total of 256,880 Chinese tourists arrived in the first two months of the year, the most improved market and a 56.44 percent growth from figures last year.

Meanwhile, South Korea remained the country’s top source market with a total 354,700 arrivals in the two-month period.

American visitors came in third with 193,985, followed by Japanese guests at 117,300 and Australians tourists at 50,404.

Completing the top twelve markets are Canada, 48,191; Taiwan, 40,856; United Kingdom, 33,554; Singapore, 28,117; Malaysia, 24,334; India, 23,064, and Hong Kong, 22,920.

According to the 2018 Spring Festival Travel Forecast Report issued by Ctrip, China’s largest online travel provider, and the China Tourism Academy, the Philippines was also named eighth popular Chinese travel destination during the Chinese New Year.

For this year, the DOT is targeting to reach 7.4 million foreign arrivals.