The Philippines’ tourism industry has generated nearly 245 billion pesos in receipts from international visitors during the first six months of the year 2019, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Data provided by the DOT Statistics, Economic Analysis and Information Management Division (SEAMID) show the highest monthly receipts of 48 billion pesos in the month of February.
For June 2019, spending reached an estimated 38 billion pesos, which is 30.56% higher than the same month last year, while tourist per capita expenditure increased to $1,086.61 or 30.97% higher than June 2018.
So far, the DOT is keeping up with its target to attract high spending and longer staying tourists in the Philippines. As proof that our guests truly find it more fun in the Philippines, average daily expenditure and average length of stay per tourist reached $120.60 and 9.01 nights, respectively, which is 28.64% and 1.81% higher than the same month last year. This is based on the data from visitor sample survey.
“These economic numbers are exciting but the real purpose of why the government is working hard to push these numbers up year after year is for the Filipino people. Tourism in 2018 was responsible for 5.4 million jobs in 2018, contributing 12.7 percent or P2.2 trillion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). At the end of the day, it is the number of lives changed for the better by tourism that would truly count,” remarked Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
Earlier, the DOT disclosed that 4.1 million foreigners have visited the country from January to June this year, indicating an 11.43% increase from 2018.
