By Matthew Go
The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced a total of ₱712 billion in visitor receipts from January 1 to December 15, 2024, marking a 119 percent recovery rate from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The figures were shared during the department’s year-end media briefing held on Tuesday, December 17.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco credited the success to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of making tourism a cornerstone of the nation’s recovery. “From the very beginning, President Marcos made a bold declaration: tourism will be a cornerstone of our nation’s recovery. Inspired by his vision, we embraced the challenge—not just to rebuild but to innovate, not just to promote, but to develop, to transform, to lead,” Frasco said.
While traditional metrics often emphasize tourist arrivals, Frasco encouraged a broader evaluation of the sector’s performance, focusing on “numbers that matter” such as visitor receipts, tourism spending, length of stay, and employment figures. She noted that international tourists are spending an average of $2,073 per capita, according to a World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report, reflecting the country’s shift towards attracting quality visitors.
Tourists are now staying longer in the Philippines, with the average stay increasing from nine nights in 2019 to over 11 nights in 2024. More than 70 percent of tourists visiting the country are repeat visitors, which Frasco attributed to efforts in elevating tourism quality and diversifying tourism products. “Tourists are staying longer in the Philippines, and over 70 percent of tourists coming to the country are repeat visitors. Truly, our tourists have come to Love the Philippines with a higher spend, longer stay, and repeat visits,” Frasco said.
The tourism industry also made a significant impact on employment in 2024. The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) April Labor Force Survey reported that 16.4 million Filipinos, or 34.11 percent of the nation’s total workforce, were employed in tourism-related roles during the first quarter of the year. Region 4A (Calabarzon) led in tourism employment with 2.92 million workers, followed by the National Capital Region (2.80 million) and Region 3 (2.49 million). Central Visayas and Western Visayas also contributed with 1.57 million and 1.07 million tourism workers, respectively.
“These figures highlight the pivotal role of tourism in generating livelihood and uplifting communities nationwide,” Frasco said. “The Department of Tourism remains steadfast in its mission to generate quality employment opportunities for Filipinos across the country.”