Low airfares, sun, fun and new accomodation types fuel Philippine tourism
Tourism has grown to become an important sector of the Philippine economy over the recent years, with the travel and tourism industry contributing more than ten per cent to the country’s GDP. Visitor numbers have been on a significant growth path over the past decade, up from around one million in 1996 to 5.36 million in 2015, which is partly owing to the emergence of low-cost airlines, a trend from which the Philippines benefit a lot, as well as improving touristic infrastructure.
The country is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, as well as a rich biodiversity including mountains, rainforests and islands with many diving spots, not to speak of a rich historical and cultural heritage and the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. Besides that, it is the hospitality and warm-heartedness of the Filipino people that attracts visitors, together with a wide range of accommodation options reaching from posh five-star, business and boutique city hotels to holiday villas, guest houses, low-key homestays and beach huts. This has also attracted investors in real estate that find growing options to rent out their home to visitors.
For this year, the Philippine Department of Tourism has set a target of six million international visitors, which seems reachable with the help of promotional initiatives in important source markets such as Japan, South Korea, China, US, Australia and Canada, as well of social media and the creative long-time tagline “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”
Tourism has grown to become an important sector of the Philippine economy over the recent years, with the travel and tourism industry contributing more than ten per cent to the country's GDP. Visitor numbers have been on a significant growth path over the past decade, up from around one million in 1996 to 5.36 million in 2015, which is partly owing to the emergence of low-cost airlines, a trend from which the Philippines benefit a lot, as well as improving touristic infrastructure. The country is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, as well as...
Tourism has grown to become an important sector of the Philippine economy over the recent years, with the travel and tourism industry contributing more than ten per cent to the country’s GDP. Visitor numbers have been on a significant growth path over the past decade, up from around one million in 1996 to 5.36 million in 2015, which is partly owing to the emergence of low-cost airlines, a trend from which the Philippines benefit a lot, as well as improving touristic infrastructure.
The country is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, as well as a rich biodiversity including mountains, rainforests and islands with many diving spots, not to speak of a rich historical and cultural heritage and the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. Besides that, it is the hospitality and warm-heartedness of the Filipino people that attracts visitors, together with a wide range of accommodation options reaching from posh five-star, business and boutique city hotels to holiday villas, guest houses, low-key homestays and beach huts. This has also attracted investors in real estate that find growing options to rent out their home to visitors.
For this year, the Philippine Department of Tourism has set a target of six million international visitors, which seems reachable with the help of promotional initiatives in important source markets such as Japan, South Korea, China, US, Australia and Canada, as well of social media and the creative long-time tagline “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”
