How Much do Foreign Tourists Spend in the Philippines.

Filipinos have been identified as one of the fastest growing travel spenders among emerging markets in 2013.  The United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO) said the Philippines’ outbound expenditure grew 18 percent in 2013, second highest in the list of top travel spenders following Turkey, which registered a 24-percent growth.

Other emerging markets with substantial growth in outbound expenditure were Qatar (18 percent); Kuwait (15 percent); Indonesia, (15 percent); Ukraine (15 percent); and Brazil (14 percent).

UNWTO noted that international tourist arrivals grew five percent in 2013, reaching a record 1.08 billion arrivals, based on its latest World Tourism Barometer.  UNWTO said growth was realised despite global economic challenges.

4.7 million foreigners visited the Philippines in 2013

International visitors to the Philippines in 2013 reached a record 4.68 million in 2013, but fell short of the government’s target of 5.5 million, after typhoon Yolanda hit several resort islands in November and a strong earthquake shook Bohol in October, according to a report by Manila Standard Today.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) said arrivals grew 9.6 percent from the previous record of 4.27 million in 2012.  “This feat gives the tourism industry a new milestone as tourists continue to demonstrate sustained growth amidst challenges,” the agency said.

The government initially set a target of 5.5 million visitor arrivals in 2014, in line with the goal of attracting 10 million foreign tourists by 2016.  Monthly visitor count in 2013 reached an all-time high of more than 400,000 in January, February, March, July and December, it said. 

The highest growth rates were recorded in February (up 15.8 percent), June (14 percent) and August (13 percent), it added.

South Korea remained the biggest source market in 2013 with 24.9 percent share to total inbound visitors for 1.17 million arrivals.  Arrivals from the East Asian country increased 13 percent year-on-year.

“The successful conclusion of air services agreement in this market has contributed to increase in flight frequencies in key international gateways,” the DoT said.

Visitors from the United States contributed the second biggest arrivals at 674,564 for a share of 14.4 percent.    Chinese tourists bounced back a growth of 69.9 percent for total visitor arrivals of 426,352.  The volume surpassed the revised target for China of 260,000 set at the beginning of the year. 

“The substantial increase in Chinese visitors was first felt in May when arrivals posted 107.7 percent growth.  For the past eight months, growth was steady at more than 100 percent to double digit,” it said.

Arrivals from Japan increased 5.1 percent to 433,705, following the implementation of new programmes and introduction of new products targeting new and niche markets.

Meanwhile, Australians and Singaporeans surpassed the Taiwanese as the fourth and fifth biggest sources of visitor arrivals.  These markets posted 11.4 percent and 18 percent growth, respectively. 

Tourism receipts gained from inbound visitors was estimated at $4.40 billion in 2013, up by 15.1 percent from the 2012 level.

The overall average length of stay of visitors in 2013 remained at 9.6 nights.  Foreign visitors stayed for an average of 9.4 nights while Filipinos from other countries stayed an average of 18.8 nights.  

Average daily expenditure of inbound tourists increased 8.7 percent to US$101.12 from US$92.99 in 2012.