RP tourism generates P4.44B in Jan. ’04

Philippine tourism is showing steady signs of having recovered, bringing in R4.442 billion in estimated revenues. Senatorial candidate Richard “Dick” Gordon cites that in January 2004 foreign tourist arrivals reached 177,715, signifying a 16 percent increase over foreign tourist arrivals in January 2003 which was pegged at 153,509. Gordon pointed out that with each tourist spending at least $500, this translates into a direct infusion of $88 million to the Philippine economy.

“Tourists arrivals have been steadily increasing since October 2003 and in December, the number of foreign tourist arrivals reached a historic high of 238,316 – almost 20 percent higher that in December 2002 when 191,072 foreign tourists arrived,”said Gordon.

Foreign tourist arrivals in January 2004 were composed mainly of visitors from China, Hongkong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

He further cited a paradigm shift towards intra-regional tourism, saying intra-asian tourism is on upswing.

The World Tourism Organization’s (WTO) Tourism 2002 Vision forecasts international arrivals are expected to reach over 1.56 billion by the year 2020. Of these worldwide arrivals, 1.2 billion will be intra-regional and 0.4 will be long haul travelers.

The top three receiving regions of intra-regional travel will be Europe (717 million tourists), East Asia and the Pacific (397 million) and Americas (282 million).

Just recently, Gordon asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to initiate talks with the Ministry of Japan for the removal of key tourist destinations in the Philippines’ from that country’s “danger list.”

Gordon asked the department to make arrangements with the Japanese to facilitate the de-listing of Boracay, Palawan and Negros Occidental from the list of dangerous tourist destinations.

“These places are relatively peaceful and safe and are teeming with foreign and local tourists,” Gordon said.

Japan’s “danger list” was discovered by the Association of Tourism Officers in Negros Occidental which immediately expressed shock over his department.

Tokyo was reportedly concerned over the alleged deteriorating peace and order situation in the said areas, particularly in Negros Occidental, due to recent spate of bus-burning and extortion by rebels belonging to the New People’s Army.

Gordon said the rebel activities are isolated cases, which are no cause for alarm as the police and military are on top on the security situation.