By Gabriela Baron
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said it is eyeing to increase tourism volume from the United States (US) to the Philippines.
During the Listening Tour with Travel Trade Stakeholders in Los Angeles, California on Friday, April 21, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco expressed her gratitude to American tourism industry stakeholders.
“I am very grateful for the US market and our airline and travel tour partners because throughout the challenges that we have faced since reopening [in] February last year, it was the US that delivered for us and saw us through being our number one source market,” Frasco said.
“Recognizing the huge potential that there is and can still be for this market, as well as the future partnership that we can have in various endeavors concerning the growth of the tourism industry, we are here today to listen to you to understand truly how we would be able to uplift the Philippines’ standing in the [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and the world,” she added.
In 2022, the US clinched the top spot of Philippines’ source markets, tallying over 500,000 visitor arrivals to the country.
As of April 21, the country already had 304,289 arrivals from the US, making up 17.91% of the total international visits in the first quarter of 2023. – cf
