DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM ENERGIZED BY STRONG INDUSTRY RECOVERY INDICATORS IN 2022 PHILIPPINE TOURISM SATELLITE ACCOUNTS
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is optimistic about the robust recovery of the Philippines’ tourism sector, buoyed by encouraging figures revealed in the 2022 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In the recent media release from the PSA, the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) share of the sector to the Philippine economy, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), surged to an estimated 6.2 percent in 2022. Notably, the TDGVA reached PHP 1.38 trillion, marking a remarkable 36.9 percent increase from PHP 1.00 trillion in 2021. The internal tourism expenditure, encompassing both inbound and domestic tourism expenditure, also witnessed substantial growth, reaching PHP 1.87 trillion in 2022, a remarkable 131.2 percent surge from PHP 810 billion in 2021.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco welcomed the positive figures and highlighted the DOT’s commitment to sustaining last year’s gains through its seven-point agenda under the Marcos administration.
“We are elated and inspired by the figures enclosed in the 2022 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s clear vision and confidence in the tourism industry sparked a strong sense of inspiration and urgency for the DOT, government partners, and private sector stakeholders to work together. This whole-of-government approach allowed the Philippines to achieve great heights in less than a year,” Secretary Frasco said.
Acknowledging the need for initiatives to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the Philippine tourism industry, Secretary Frasco added, “As we continue to ride the wave of travel resurgence post-pandemic, we acknowledge the need for initiatives that will make the Philippine tourism industry sustainable, resilient, and top-of-mind for the next several years.”
Inbound Tourism Expenditure Surges
The 2022 PTSA indicated that inbound tourism expenditure experienced the highest growth among different forms of tourism expenditure, soaring to PHP 368.67 billion in 2022 compared to PHP 27.63 billion in 2021, reflecting a staggering growth rate of 1,234.2 percent. Inbound tourism expenditure contributed 5.9 percent to the country’s total exports in 2022, a significant increase from the 0.6 percent share in 2021.
Domestic Tourism Flourishes
With domestic tourism expenditure reaching PHP 1.50 trillion in 2022, a robust 92.3 percent growth from PHP 782.57 billion in 2021, Secretary Frasco stressed the importance of further boosting domestic tourism. Domestic tourism expenditure contributed 9.0 percent to the household final consumption expenditure.
The DOT’s initiatives for domestic tourism promotion include various regional expos, fairs, and the Philippine Experience Program, which highlights key, emerging, and lesser-known destinations across the country.
Tourism Employment on the Rise
The 2022 PTSA reported that employment in tourism-related industries surged to an estimated 5.35 million in 2022, a 9.3 percent increase from 4.9 million in 2021. The share of employment in tourism industries to the country’s total employment also rose to 11.4 percent in 2022 from 11.1 percent in 2021.
“The maximization of domestic tourism is one of our key objectives under the Marcos administration. Through initiatives like the Philippine Experience Program and regional expos, we aim to generate tourism opportunities and encourage stakeholders to immerse themselves in diverse destinations,” explained Secretary Frasco.
The Department of Tourism looks forward to building on these positive trends and further strengthening the Philippines as a top-tier global tourism destination.