In the first quarter of 2024, the Philippines experienced a remarkable surge in tourism, marked by a substantial increase in visitor arrivals compared to the same period in the previous year. This surge was largely driven by a notable rise in arrivals from key markets, particularly China, Japan, and South Korea.
Overall Growth and Key Statistics
During the first three months of 2024, the total number of visitor arrivals in the Philippines reached an impressive 1,662,491, representing a substantial year-on-year increase of 18.3%. This surge was significantly boosted by a remarkable 150.0% growth in arrivals from China alone, reaching 109,568 visitors. Japan followed closely with a 63.2% increase, totaling 105,347 arrivals, while South Korean arrivals rose by 26.0% to 458,619 visitors.
Top Source Markets
South Korea retained its position as the leading source market for visitor arrivals into the Philippines during this period. The United States, China, Japan, and Australia also featured prominently among the top source countries contributing to the tourism influx.
Breakdown of Arrivals
Out of the total arrivals in Q1 2024, overseas Filipinos accounted for 112,668 visitors, while foreigner arrivals saw a substantial increase of 21.3%, totaling 1,568,226.
Monthly Arrival Trends
February emerged as the peak month for tourism arrivals with 582,332 visitors, closely followed by January with 574,439 visitors, and March with 505,720 visitors.
Implications
The significant growth in visitor arrivals, particularly from China, underscores the growing appeal of the Philippines as a tourist destination, especially among Asian travelers. The surge in arrivals from Japan and South Korea also indicates a broader trend of increasing interest in the country’s tourism offerings.
The first quarter of 2024 witnessed a remarkable surge in visitor arrivals to the Philippines, fueled by substantial growth from key markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea. This trend bodes well for the country’s tourism sector, highlighting its growing popularity as a destination of choice in the Asia-Pacific region.