According to a release by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines topped eight million in 2019, beating last year’s 7.1 million figure.
“Breaching the eight million mark is another milestone to celebrate as it marks the unprecedented growth of the country’s tourism industry,” said DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
The cabinet official credited a number of factors, including the latest edition of the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign, as the reason behind the continued growth.
“The launching of the refreshed ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ branding campaign; reopening of Boracay; sustainable tourism advocacy efforts; improved air connectivity; hosting of big ticket tourism events; intensified digital and online marketing; mainstreaming of different tourism product portfolios, including culinary tourism and farm tourism; healthy private-public partnerships; and international accolades and recognition all helped the industry,” she explained.
Earlier this month, DOT kicked off “Kain Na!,” an event featuring delicacies and culinary heritage of the Western Visayas, at the Shops at Atria in Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district.
The event, which was the last leg of the department’s food and travel fair, runs throughout the weekend and promises to offer treats native to Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras./WDJ