Philippines Targets 25% Increase in Foreign Tourist Arrivals

CEBU CITY PHILIPPINES - The Philippines expects three million foreign tourist arrivals this year, hitting the country's maximum capacity.

"We have already registered 17 per cent growth for the first two months this year. Even before the end of the quarter, we exceeded 500,000 foreign tourists," according to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

The Philippines had registered double digit growth rates for the past two years.

Foreign tourists increased from 2.29 million in 2004 to 2.613 million in 2005, generating US$2.12 billion in dollar receipts.

The Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) records also showed growth in tourist arrivals from all key regions of the world.

East Asia registered 15 per cent growth while arrivals from south Asia and the Middle East posted rose by 13.9 per cent and 18.2 per cent, respectively.

The other regions that registered increased arrivals include North America (10.7 per cent), South America (13.2 per cent), Western Europe (12.2 per cent), Northern Europe (13.8 per cent), Southern Europe (14.3 per cent) and Eastern Europe (161.5 per cent).

While the Philippines expects considerable growth in foreign tourism this year, it could not serve as much tourists as it would like because of limited accommodation, Durano said.

According to Durano, the department is targeting three million because this is the country's current capacity.

The government is working hand in hand with the tourism industry to invest and increase its current capacity to accomodate the target 5 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2010, reported Durano.

4/18/06

Source: PNA

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