Philippines 'open and ready' to welcome back Chinese tourists

Xinhua | Updated: 2023-01-25 00:17
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Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco (second from right) greets tourists from China at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City, the Philippines, Jan 24, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

As a key economic driver, the tourism industry's contribution to the Philippines' gross domestic product stood at 12.7 percent in 2019.

Over 1.74 million Chinese tourists visited the Southeast Asian country in 2019, an increase of 38.58 percent from 2018. Chinese tourists spent more than $2.3 billion while vacationing in the country, official data showed.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the tourism sector, slashing foreign arrivals and displacing almost 1.1 million service workers across the country.

"The tourists will help the Philippines in its efforts to transform and recover the tourism industry," Frasco said Tuesday at the airport, adding the returning of Chinese tourists will have a positive impact on the sector.

The Philippines received over 2.65 million foreign tourists in 2022, earning roughly $3.82 billion in revenue. The Southeast Asian country's target for 2023 is to lure some 4.8 million international visitors, with the Chinese tourist market remaining on its priority list.

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