Visitor arrivals continue to plunge

MANILA, Philippines — Visitor arrivals in the first two months of the year plunged by close to 99 percent as the government extended its policy to prohibit the entry of foreign travelers.

According to Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, foreign arrivals declined to 17,422, in January to February from 1.25 million in the same period last year.

Bengzon attributed the slump in tourist arrivals to the government’s decision to keep borders closed and bar the entry of foreign nationals as the country struggles to contain the spread of the virus.

He said this is the reason the Department of Tourism (DOT) has turned to domestic travelers to keep the sector afloat. In consultations with the DOT.

“Basically, the consultations point to domestic tourism as the linchpin for the recovery efforts for the Philippines,” the tourism official said.

He said the DOT is preparing for the kind of travel activities domestic and foreign tourists alike will pay for in the new normal.

“There will be greater preference for open air activities – going to the beach, going on road trips, going hiking and mountaineering, even going on motorbike tours – (as) this is something that will characterize tourism under the new normal,” Bengzon said.

In spite of the focus on domestic tourism, Bengzon said the DOT is assessing options on how to get vaccinated foreigners enter the country.

“There is no policy yet when it comes to allowing foreign nationals who have been vaccinated. That is something that is being discussed,” he said.

Last year visitor arrivals in the Philippines declined by more than 82 percent to 1.48 million.

As a result, visitor spending also declined by 83 percent to P82.24 billion.