2010 Tourist Arrivals Promises Better Year for Wedding and Tourism
18 February 2011

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Tourism has just released a positive report on the status of Philippine tourism despite the series of mishaps that has happened including the hostage taking of a tourist bus in Manila. As the Department continues to undertake aggressive marketing and promotion of the Philippines as a safe and secure tourist destination, the market is anticipated to continue growing. And with the beauty of the Philippine islands gaining popularity for destination weddings, Philippine hotels, resorts, tourism- and wedding-related establishments can finally breath a sigh of relief and look forward to better business for 2011.

Romantic and secluded Pearl Farm Resort

According to the reports, inbound tourists to the Philippines reached 3.52 million, surpassing the 3.3 million earlier set by the Department. “South Korea topped the list with 740,622 arrivals, followed by the United States with 600,165, Japan with 358,744, China 187,446, Australia 147,469, Taiwan 142,455, Hong Kong 133,746 and Singapore 121,083, Canada 106,345 and Britain 96,925.”

Shopping (27 per cent), food and beverage (26.8 per cent), accommodation (23 per cent) and entertainment/recreation (16 per cent) were among those being spent on by tourists.

DOT Secretary Alberto Lim said that the renewed confidence and spirit in the Philippines as a tourist destination was brought about by the entry of the new administration last July. The second half of 2010 showed growth at 21.2 percent than the first semester’s increase at 12.2 percent.

Pristine white sands of Bohol Beach Club

On a monthly basis, December was recorded to have the highest number of tourists. Arrivals at this month also increased by 24.9 against last 2009. (And did you know that December is the peak season for weddings in the Philippines? )

“Visitor receipts grew by 11.3 per cent to US$ 2.49 or P112.55 billion over the 2009 receipts of US$ 2.23 (P106.38 billion). This feat is brought by the increase in visitor average daily expenditure by 10.8 percent to US$ 83.93 while average length of stay remained at eight nights.”

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Kasal.com thanks the following source for this article:

Breitbart. Tourist arrivals in Philippines reach all time high in 2010+ (Posted on Jan. 28, 2011) Retrieved on January 31, 2011 from http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9L19UOO0&show_article=1

Manila Bulletin. Foreign tourists arrival in 2010 was an all-time high (Posted on Jan 28. 2011) Retrieved on January 31, 2011 from http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/301165/foreign-tourists-arrival-2010-was-alltime-high