According to data from the Department of Tourism (DOT), international visitor arrivals in the Philippines increased by 10.9 percent between January and August compared to the same period last year.
During the first eight months of 2024, the total number of foreign visitors to the country reached 3.3 million. Including overseas Filipinos, the Philippines welcomed nearly 3.7 million visitors, marking a 10.1 percent increase.
In August alone, the Philippines received 428,537 international visitors. Although August is the summer holiday season, there was a decline compared to July and the first three months of the year.
South Korea maintained its position as the primary source of inbound tourists, with 1,078,063 visitor arrivals recorded during the eight-month period, reflecting a 13 percent increase from 2023.
South Korean visitors accounted for approximately 26.8 percent of the total visitor arrivals in the country, significantly outpacing other source markets.
The United States retained its second-place ranking among source markets, with 637,592 visitors recorded during the eight-month period. The growth rate for visitors from the United States was modest, with an increase of only 0.78 percent.
Japan ranked third, with 260,773 arrivals, representing a surge of 33.6 percent. China followed closely, with 241,041 Chinese visitors traveling to the Philippines between January and August.
The DOT has set a target of 7.7 million international visitor arrivals in 2024, aiming to surpass the 5.45 million recorded last year.
