Koreans top list of tourist arrivals

CEBU, Philippines - Korean nationals top the list of foreign tourist arrivals in Lapu-Lapu City for the six-consecutive years, according to the records of the committee on tourism.

City Councilor Quennie Malingin-Amman, chairman of the committee on tourism in the city council, said Koreans are visiting the city in droves.

In her record furnished The Freeman, Amman said her committee recorded 834,251 Korean nationals since 2004 until 2009 but 2006 recorded the highest number of Korean tourist arrivals in the city.

In 2009, 140,351 Koreans visited Lapu-Lapu.

According to Amman, last year the Japanese used to be the top foreign visitors to the city but are now second in the list with 105, 642. Americans came in third with 44,436, the People’s Republic of China, 28, 645, and Hongkong, 17,676.

In 2001 to 2003, Japan was a consistent number one in tourist arrivals, followed by Americans and Koreans.

Amman said the opening of direct to and chartered flights from Korea contributed to the growing number of visitors to the island. 

She said many Koreans, particularly the younger generation, come first as tourists and then later decide to stay for several months to study English in one of the many English-as-a-second-language (ESL) schools in the city.

Amman also said the city has excellent hotels, beach resorts, among others. The city also prides itself as the first bastion of freedom in history, she said.   (FREEMAN NEWS)