Philippines Exceeds 2023 Tourism Targets with 5.45 Million International Tourist Arrivals

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported that the Philippines surpassed its targeted number of international tourist arrivals in 2023, welcoming more than five million tourists and generating over P480 billion in tourism receipts. DOT’s monitoring data revealed that from January 1 to December 31, 5.45 million foreign tourists visited the country, surpassing the targeted 4.8 million visitors for the year.

Of the total, 91.80 percent (approximately five million) were foreigners, while 8.20 percent (447,082) were overseas Filipinos. South Korea retained its position as the leading source of international visitors, contributing 26.41 percent or 1.42 million tourists, followed by the US (16.57 percent), Japan (5.61 percent), Australia (4.89 percent), and China (4.84 percent).

The Philippines witnessed a significant recovery in international tourism receipts, reaching an estimated P482.54 billion for the same period—a surge of 124.87 percent from the previous year’s P214.58 billion. The DOT highlighted that the recovery rate stands at around 66 percent of the pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019.

Looking ahead, the DOT has set a baseline target of 7.7 million international visitor arrivals for the current year. On New Year’s Eve alone, the Bureau of Immigration recorded close to 50,000 arrivals in the country, with 34 percent being foreigners. This uptick in arrivals on New Year’s Eve is seen as an indication that the Philippines is regaining its appeal as a popular holiday destination.

For the entire month of December, the Bureau of Immigration processed 1.6 million arrivals, surpassing its initial projection of 1.5 million. The positive trends in international tourism signal a promising recovery for the Philippines’ tourism sector.

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