Philippine Department of Tourism-New York tourism attaché Francisco Lardizabal said they are anticipating a 15 percent increase in the number of US tourists visiting the Philippines this year. He said they are actively pushing Philippine tourism in the US market through trade events and directly targeting consumers. With him is Philippine Consulate General-New York Consul General Senen T. Mangalile.
PH ATTRACTS MORE US TOURISTS
Source: Jervis Manahan X post, ABS-CBN News
SCREEN GRABS FROM X POST OF JERVIS MANAHAN, ABS-CBN NEWS
NEW YORK — The Philippines is eyeing a significant increase in arrivals from the United States this year, said tourism attaché Francisco Lardizabal.
In a briefing at the Philippine Center in New York City, Lardizabal said they are aiming for a 15-percent increase in tourists coming from the US, which means this could reach 1 million expected tourists from the US this 2024.
Lardizabal said they have a two-pronged approach to promote Philippine tourism in the US: penetrating the travel trade through events and directly targeting consumers.
The US is second to South Korea in the number of tourists arriving in the Philippines, according to Department of Tourism (DOT) data.
“But Americans spend [more] and stay longer, kaya mas mataas ang total revenue,” Lardizabal said.
He said the consulate has been actively promoting the Philippines in trade events and at Filipino community gatherings like embassy open houses and the upcoming celebration of Independence Day.
“Based on the data provided by our statistics office, 55.71% arrivals from the US are former Filipinos. Their main motivation is to visit their friends and relatives,” he added.
Lardizabal said food tourism and soft adventures such as beaches continue to attract foreign tourists in the country.
The DOT said more than two million tourists have already visited the country this year. In 2023, the Philippines welcomed more than five million tourists, of which more than 836,000 came from the US. Sourced from JERVIS MANAHAN, ABS-CBN News online
