Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) shows that foreign arrivals to the Philippines reached nearly 4.1 million in the first ten months of 2023, approaching the government’s full-year goal of 4.8 million arrivals.
Adding overseas Filipino arrivals, the country has recorded almost 4.45 million arrivals so far.
South Korea continues to be the top inbound tourist source, with nearly 1.2 million visitor arrivals recorded in the ten months. This figure represents 26.3 percent of the country’s total arrivals.
By source market, the United States was responsible for 16.7 percent of arrivals (742,295), followed by Japan with 5.57 percent (247,674), China with 5.03 percent (223,411), Australia with 4.66 percent (207,366), and Canada with 4.06 percent (180,625).
According to the report, the department is optimistic that this year’s inbound arrivals target will be exceeded, with the implementation of an electronic visa (e-visa) platform.
Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines announced that the government is currently in the process of refining various initiatives designed to extend the validity of electronic visas (e-Visas) for foreign nationals.
