DOT Expects Tourism Recovery With Chinese Tourists

The Department of Tourism is optimistic about hitting pre-pandemic tourism arrival numbers with the entry of visitors from China after the Chinese government loosened its travel restrictions.

The Department of Tourism and airport officials hosted a welcome reception for an estimated 190 tourists arriving from China. These Chinese visitors arrived from a  Xiamen Airlines flight MF819 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco personally welcomed the visitors alongside the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, together with Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Cesar Chiong, and Xiamen Air General Manager of Manila Office Yan Tan.

For Secretary Frasco, the entry of Chinese tourists “signals a very auspicious start to the New Year.”  and adding that it  “indicates the positive result of President (Ferdinand) Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s state visit to China to further the relations between our countries.”

Before the pandemic, the second top tourist source of the Philippines was China.

Back then, the Philippines noted an all-time high of international tourist arrivals with 8.26 million. Out of this number, over 1.7 million came from China.

With the development, the DOT predicts a faster tourism recovery.

“We anticipate even more Chinese tourists to arrive which will greatly help us in our efforts to transform and to recover the tourism industry as our intention is not only to regain our pre-pandemic numbers but to exceed it knowing how the relationship between the Philippines and China will only further improve in the years to come with the stance of both our governments,” mentioned Secretary Frasco.

Source: Philstar