Tourist arrivals increase 12%, visitor receipts up by 14% for in 1st quarter of 2018 for Region 2
Tourist arrivals for the first quarter of 2018 registered an increase of 12.13% over the same period last year. Tourist arrivals totaling to 268,477 is composed of 191,296 domestic and 77,181 foreign tourists. Data source for tourist arrivals are from the accommodation establishments within the region.
Top ten foreign origin markets are China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, India and Singapore. China with 72,777 tourists comprised 94% of the region’s international tourist arrivals with the majority going to Santa Ana in Cagayan.
Same-day visitors (persons visiting for less than 24 hours) registered a decrease of 1.68% from the first quarter of 2017. Same day visitor arrival totaling to 320,531 is composed of 312,697 domestic and 7,834 foreign visitors. Data source for same day visitors are tourism sites and attractions.
Gross receipts from total visitor spending reached PHP1.88 billion or registering an increase of 14% over first quarter 2017 receipts of PHP1.65 billion.
The continuous involvement of tourism stakeholders and local government units in the development, enhancement and marketing of wide range of diversified tourism products allowed visitor to stay longer in the region. Most of these tourism products developed and enhanced are ecotourism, nature-based tourism, sun and beach tourism, culture-based tourism, faith and farm tourism.
The region also participated in various marketing and promotional programs which includes regular participation in annual travel and tourism trade fairs, production and distribution of IEC materials, PR works, linkages with media and participation to travel fairs and exhibits. The region also had a large pavilion at the 2017 Philippine Travel Mart for the first time.
Local government units were capacitated in tourism development planning activities. The region also conducted manpower training to tourism industry providers most specially accredited tourism enterprises to improve and upgrade skills.
The office acted upon 70 tourism enterprises applications for new and renewal applications for Accreditation of which 35 tourism enterprises were accredited. The second half of 2018 will also see the full implementation of the Progressive Accreditation System which will see more tourism enterprises join a more inclusive listing of tourism businesses being monitored by the Department of Tourism.