Foreign tourist arrivals in Cebu up by 11.3%

CEBU - The Department of Tourism said that foreign tourists arriving at the Mactan International Airport went up by 11.3 percent in October.

Korea accounted for the biggest share of visitor volume at 42.2 percent while Japan ranked as the second source market with a share of 15.6 percent.

These markets demonstrated growth of 12.9 and 9 percent respectively arising from the DOT’s intention to promote English as a second language program geared towards the Korean market as well as health and wellness for the Japanese market.

Arrivals from China posted a net growth of 116 percent with direct charter flight twice a week by the China Eastern Airlines between Shanghai and Cebu.

Arrivals from India, a new source market, also grew by 118 percent as the DOT undertook greater efforts to position Cebu as the incentive destination, shopping haven and entertainment hub.

Visitors from Hong Kong went up 6.5 percent making it the third source market for Cebu.

The annual meeting for Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa last October provided an occasion to showcase Cebu as destination for meetings.

Singaporeans and Malaysians visiting Cebu expanded by 42.3 percent and 29.7 percent respectively. Russian tourists also increased by 40 percent.

Despite the challenges, tourists from the United States registered a 7.1 percent growth.

The number of foreign tourists in Cebu for the first 10 months of 2008 totaled to 334,482, an increase by 9.4 percent from last year’s figure. — Jasmin R. Uy/LPM (THE FREEMAN)